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X 


CONFESSION  OF  FAITH 
1842. 


■ 


BX7I50 
.C2.F5 
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fy-b.c 

PRINCETON,  N.  J. 

id  byXXXrs .CJ\rr\c 

Division  ..O-L 

Section  ..•.S^.£-.L  - 

SOME    PASSAGES 


HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH, 

IN    CONNEXION    WITH  THE 

SHEPARD  CONGREGATIONAL  SOCIETY 
IN    CAMBRIDGE: 

TOGETHER    WTTH    IT3 

CONFESSION    OF   FAITH,   FORM   OF  ADMISSION, 
ECCLESIASTICAL  PRINCIPLES,  AND  RULES, 

AND 

NAMES    OF    MEMBERS. 


THAT  THOU  MAYEST  KNOW  HOW  THOO  OUGHTEST  TO  BEHAVE  THYSELF 
IH  THE  HOUSE  OF  GOD,  WHICH  IS  THE  CHURCH  OF  THE  LIVING  GOD, 
THE    TILLAR    AND    GROUND    OF    THE    TRUTH."  —  1    Tim.   iii.  19. 


CAMBRIDGE: 
THURSTON    AND    TORRY. 

M  DCCC  XLII. 


ADVERTISEMENT 


The  following  Confession  of  Faith,  Form  of  Ad- 
mission, Ecclesiastical  Principles,  and  Rules,  were 
prepared  in  accordance  with  a  vote  of  the  Church, 
and  alter  mature,  thorough,  and  prayerful  examination 
were  unanimously  adopted,  and,  together  with  some 
historical  notices,  ordered  to  be  printed  for  the  use  of 
the  members.  The  work  is  now  presented  to  the 
Church  with  the  earnest  prayer,  that  through  the 
influence  of  Divine  Grace,  it  may  be  instrumental  in 
bringing  us  all  in  "  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man, 
unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of 
Christ  :  that  we  henceforth  be  no  more  children, 
tossed  to  and  fro,  and  carried  about  by  every  wind  of 
doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of  men,  and  cunning  crafti- 
ness whereby  they  lie  in  weight  to  deceive  ;  but  speak- 
ing the  truth  in  love,  may  grow  up  into  him  in  all 
things,  which  is  the  head,  even  Christ  :  from  whom 
the  whole  body  fitly  joined  together  and  compacted 
by  that  which  every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the 
effectual  working  in  the  measure  of  every  part,  mak- 
eth  increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself 
in  love." 

Cambridge,  July,  1842. 


SOME    PASSAGES 


HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH 


IN  CAMBRIDGE. 


I  know  thy  works,  and  charity,  and   service,  and  faith,  and  thy  patience, 
and  ihy  works ;  and  the  last  to  be  more  than  the  first."  —  Rev.  ii.  19. 


What  hours  of  temptation  may  overtake  these 
churches,  is  not  for  us  to  say  ;  only  the  Lord  doth 
many  times  so  order  things,  that  when  his  people  have 
made  a  good  Confession,  they  shall  be  put  upon  the 
trial  one  way  or  other,  to  see  whether  they  have,  or 
who  among  them  hath  not,  been  sincere  in  what  they 
have  done.  The  Lord  grant  that  our  loins  may  be 
so  girt  about  with  truth,  that  we  may  be  able  to  stand 
in  the  evil  day,  and  having  done  all,  to  stand.  — 
Preface  to  the  Confession  of  Faith  adopted  by  the  Churches 
of  Massachusetts,  in  1680. 


SOME     PASSAGES 

IH    T1IK 

HISTORY     OF     THE     FIRST     CHURCH 
IN    CAMBRIDGE. 


The  settlement  of  Cambridge,  originally  called 
Newtown,  was  commenced  in  the  Spring  of  the  \«ar 
1631.  The  town  was  considerably  enlarged  by  the 
arrival  of  a  number  of  emigrants,  called  the  Brain- 
tree  company,  in  August,  1032.  As  the  quiet  enjoy- 
ment of  religious  privileges  was  the  great  obj<<  ,  of 
their  removal  to  this  place,  their  first  work  was  to 
erect  a  house  for  public  worship,  and  adopt  measures 
for  the  establishment  of  the  ministry  and  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  gospel  among  them.  It  was  the  com- 
mon remark  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  England, 
that  a  country  destitute  of  the  gospel  ministry  re- 
sembled paradise  without  the  tree  of  life. 

Many  of  the  emigrants  had,  while  in  England,  be- 
longed to  the  congregation  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Hooker,  a  preacher  of  great  celebrity,  who,  to  escape 
fines  and  imprisonment  for  nonconformity,  had  fled 
into    Holland.     Being  greatly  attached   to  him,  and 


8 

wishing  to  enjoy  again  the  benefits  of  his  able  min- 
istry, they  invited  him  to  come  and  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  them.  In  compliance  with  their  earnest 
entreaty,  Mr.  Hooker  left  Holland,  and  having  per- 
suaded Mr.  Samuel  Stone,  a  man  of  like  spirit,  to 
accompany  him  as  an  assistant  in  the  ministry,  took 
passage  for  New  England,  and  arrived  at  Boston,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1633.  Mr.  Hooker  was  immediately 
chosen  Pastor,  and  Mr.  Stone  Teacher  of  the  people 
of  Newtown;  and  on  the  11th  of  October,  after  sol- 
emn fasting  and  prayer,  they  were  ordained  to  their 
respective  offices.  Early  in  the  Summer  of  1636,  the 
whole  Church  and  Congregation,  consisting  of  about 
a  hundred  persons,  removed  to  Connecticut,  and  com- 
menced the  settlement  of  Hartford. 

In  October,  1635,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard  arrived 
at  Boston  from  England,  with  the  people  who  were 
to  constitute  his  society.  Having  purchased  the 
houses  and  lands  which  Mr.  Hooker's  congregation 
were  about  to  leave,  they  made  arrangements  for  es- 
tablishing themselves  at  Newtown,  until  they  should 
find  a  more  suitable  place.  But  after  having  been 
here  some  time,  says  Shepard  in  his  autobiography, 
"  divers  of  our  brethren  did  desire  to  sit  still  and  not 
to  remove  farther ;  partly  because  of  the  fellowship 
of  the  churches,  partly  because  they  thought  their 
lives  were  short  and  removals  to  near  plantations  full 
of  troubles,  partly  because  they  found  sufficient  for 
themselves  and  their  company.  Hereupon  there  was 
a  purpose  to  enter  into  church  fellowship,"  and  on  the 
first   day  of  February,   1636,  a  public   assembly  was 


convened,  and  a  church,  the  first  permanent  one  in 
Cambridge,  and  the  eleventh  in  Massachusetts,  wai 
solemnly  organized.  The  following  account  of  this 
transaction  is  taken  from  Winthrop's  Journal. 

11  Mr.  Shepard,  a  godly  minister  come  lately  out 
of  England,  and  divers  other  good  Christian-,  intend- 
ing to  raise  a  church  body,  came  and   acquainted  the 

magistrates  therewith,  who  gave  their  consent.  They 
also  sent  to  all  the  neighboring  churches  for  their 
elders  to  give  their  assistance,  at  a  certain  day,  at 
Newtown,  when  they  should  constitute  their  body. 
Accordingly,  on  this  day  there  met  a  great  assembly, 
where  the  proceeding  was  as  followeth  : 

"  Mr.  Shepard  and  two  others,  who  were  to  be  cho- 
sen to  office,  sat  together  in  the  elder's  seat.  Then  the 
elder  of  them  began  with  prayer.  After  this,  Mr. 
Shepard  prayed  with  deep  confession  of  sin,  &c, 
and  exercised  out  of  Ephesians  v.  and  also  opened 
the  cause  of  their  meeting.  Then  the  elder  desired 
to  know  of  the  churches  assembled,  what  number 
were  needful  to  make  a  church,  and  how  they  ought 
to  proceed  in  this  action.  Whereupon  some  of  the 
ancient  ministers,  conferring  shortly  together,  gave 
answer  :  That  the  Scripture  did  not  set  down  any 
certain  rule  for  the  number.  Three,  they  thought, 
were  too  few,  because  by  Matth.  xviii.  an  appeal  was 
allowed  from  three ;  but  that  seven  might  be  a  fit 
number.  And,  for  their  proceedings,  they  advised 
that  such  as  were  to  join  should  make  confession  of 
their  faith,  and  declare  what  work  of  grace  the  Lord 


10 

had  wrought  in  them ;  which  accordingly  they  did, 
Mr.  Shepard  first,  then  four  others,  then  the  elder, 
and  one  who  was  to  be  deacon,  who  had  also  prayed, 
and  another  member.  Then  the  covenant  was  read, 
and  they  all  gave  a  solemn  assent  to  it.  Then  the 
elder  desired  of  the  churches,  that,  if  they  did  ap- 
prove them  to  be  a  church,  they  would  give  them  the 
right  hand  of  fellowship.  Whereupon  Mr.  Cotton, 
upon  short  speech  with  some  others  near  him,  in  the 
name  of  their  churches,  gave  his  hand  to  the  elder, 
with  a  short  speech  of  their  assent,  and  desired  the 
peace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  be  with  them.  Then  Mr. 
Shepard  made  an  exhortation  to  the  rest  of  his  body, 
about  the  nature  of  their  covenant,  and  to  stand  firm 
to  it,  and  commended  them  to  the  Lord  in  a  most 
heavenly  prayer.  Then  the  elder  told  the  assembly, 
that  they  were  intended  to  choose  Mr.  Shepard  for 
their  pastor,  and  desired  the  churches,  that,  if  they 
had  anything  to  except  against  him,  they  would  im- 
part it  to  them  before  the  day  of  ordination.  Then 
he  gave  the  churches  thanks  for  their  assistance,  and 
so  left  them  to  the  Lord." 

Mr.  Shepard's  ordination  took  place  soon  after, 
though  the  precise  date  of  it  is  not  known.  It  was 
deferred,  says  Mather,  until  another  day,  wherein 
there  was  more  time  to  go  through  the  other  solem- 
nities proper  to  such  an  occasion. 

Mr.  Shepard  died  of  a  quinsy,  August 25,  1649,  in 
the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  after  a  most  able  and 
successful  ministry  of  thirteen  years.     He  was  one 


II 

of  the  most  eminent  of  the  early  divines  of  New 
England.  His  }>r«-:M- h i im  was  in  demonstration  of 
the  spirit  and  with  power.  It  ia  said  that  he  seldom 
delivered  a  discourse  that  did  do!  produce  a  decided 
and  saving  impression  upon  his  people.  His  practi- 
cal writings  arc  -till  of  great  value.  II.  v. 
much  distinguished  for  his  piety,  industry,  and  \nri- 
lance  as  a  pastor,  as  for  his  talents  and  learning. 
Such  was  the  public  opinion  of  him,  and  of  his 
ministry,  that  "  when  the  foundation  of  a  college 
was  to  be  laid  in  this  State,  Cambridge,  rather 
than  any  other  place  was  chosen  to  be  the  seat  of 
that  happy  seminary  ;  out  of  which  there  proceed- 
ed many  notable  preachers,  who  were  made  such, 
very  much  by  their  sitting  under  Mr.  Shepard's  en- 
lightening and  powerful  ministry."  *  Those  who  wish 
to  obtain  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  re- 
ligious character  and  experience  of  this  remarkable 
man  are  referred  to  his  Autobiography,  which  was 
discovered  and  published  in  1830,  by  the  R<  V 
Adams,  then  one  of  the  pastors  of  this  church. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  ministers  of  the  first 
church  in  Cambridge  from  its  organization  in  1G36, 
until  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Holmes,  in  1792. 

Thomas  Shepard,  ordained  Feb.  1G36,  died  Aug. 
25,  1G49,  aged  44. 

Jonathan  Mitchel,  ordained  Aug.  21,  1650,  died 
July  9,  1G68,  aged  43. 

*  Mather's  Magnalia,  B.  iii.  chap.  5. 


12 

Urian  Oakes,  ordained  Nov.  8,  1671,  died  July  25, 
1681,  aged  50. 

Nathaniel  Gookin,  ordained  Nov.  15,  1682,  died 
Aug.  7,  1692,  aged  34. 

William  Brattle,  ordained  Nov.  25,  1696,  died  Feb. 
15,  1717,  aged  55. 

Nathaniel  Appleton,  ordained  Oct.  9,  1717,  died 
Feb.  9,  1784,  aged  91. 

Timothy  Hilliard,  installed  Oct.  27,  1783,  died 
May  9,  1790,  aged  44.* 

On  the  19th  of  Oct.  1791,  the  church  elected  the 
Rev.  Abiel  Holmes  their  pastor  as  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Hilliard,  and  the  parish,  upon  receiving  official 
notice  of  his  election,  voted  concurrence.  A  coun- 
cil was  accordingly  convened,  and  Dr.  Holmes  was 
solemnly  installed  pastor  of  the  first  church  and  so- 
ciety in  Cambridge,  on  the  25th  of  Jan.  1792. 
During  a  period  of  thirty-five  years,  he  enjoyed  the 
confidence  and  affection  of  the  people  of  his  pastoral 
charge,  and  his  labors  among  them  were  not  without 
good  fruit.  Entire  harmony  also  existed  between 
the  church  and  the  society.  In  1827,  difficulties 
arose,  which,  after  a  protracted  and  painful  contro- 
versy, terminated  in  the  separation   of  the  pastor  and 

*  For  biographical  notices  of  these  learned,  able,  and  pious 
ministers,  see  Dr.  Holmes's  History  of  Cambridge,  and  also 
his  Century  Sermon,  Jan.  4,  1801. 


13 

the  church  from  the  parish,  and  the  organization  of 
a  oew  ecclesiastical  society,  with  which  the  church  is 
-nil   m  connexion      The   following  account  of  tl 
proceedings   is  transcribed   from   the  records  of  the 
church. 

The  first  notice  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  minis- 
try, or  of  disaffection  to  the  person  of  the  pastor, 
expressed  in  a  memorial  signed  by  a  number  of  the 
parishioners,  dated  July  9,  t827,  and  presented  to 
the  pastor  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  The 
ground  of  the  memorial  was  the  discontinuance  of 
pastoral  exchanges  with  ministers,  with  when,  he  had 
formerly  exchanged  services.  A  discontinuance  of 
pulpit  exchanges  between  ministers  of  different  re- 
ligious principles  had  begun  long  before,  by  mutual 
and  tacit  consent.  The  more  open  avowal  of  Uni- 
tarianism  at  this,  than  at  any  former  period,  \<ry 
sensibly  affected  ministerial  intercourse,  and  many 
ministers,  who  had  formerly  exchanged  services,  now 
discontinued  them  without  controversy  and  without 
blame. 

To  the  memorial  of  the  parishioners  the  pastor 
gave  a  written  answer,  in  which  he  asked  their  in- 
dulgence in  candidly  presenting  to  them  the  difficul- 
Lnd  dangers  that  might  be  apprehended  from  so 
diversified  and  indefinite  a  course  of  public  service, 
as  their  memorial  appeared  to  have  for  its  object; 
and  expressed  his  persuasion,  thai  they  would  con- 
sider his  reply  with  the  same  candor  with  winch  he 
endeavored  to  consider  their  memorial,  and  that  tl.ey 
2 


14 

would  allow  their  minister  the  same  liberty  of  con- 
science which  he  allowed  to  them.  A  correspond- 
ence between  a  committee  of  the  memorialists  and 
the  pastor  succeeded.  Parish  meetings  were  at 
length  held,  against  whose  measures  remonstrances 
and  memorials  were  presented  by  a  number  of  the 
parishioners,  and  by  the  church. 

In  December,  1828,  the  parish,  deeming  it  unne- 
cessary to  take  any  farther  order  in  relation  to  the 
memorials  and  papers,  proposed  the  calling  of  a 
mutual  ecclesiastical  council. 

The  church,  by  a  committee  chosen  to  express  to 
the  pastor  their  views  and  feelings  in  relation  to  the 
recent  measures  adopted  by  the  parish,  presented  to 
him  an  address  on  the  9th  of  January,  1829.  After 
a  review  of  the  proceedings  of  the  parish,  the  church 
say  :  "  These  facts,  with  many  other  considerations 
that  might  be  urged,  serve  to  show,  that  a  radical 
change  in  your  ministrations,  if  not  in  your  opinions, 
was  what  could  alone  satisfy  the  memorialists.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  church  has  manifested  a 
willingness,  and  has  voted  to  cooperate  with  the 
parish  in  calling  a  mutual  council.  This  offer  was 
rejected  under  circumstances  not  altogether  favorable 
to  a  reconciliation  of  existing  difficulties,  and,  as  we 
believe,  without  a  due  regard  to  the  rights  of  the 
church,  as  a  party  deeply  concerned  in  the  result." 
The  address  was  closed  with  these  words  :  "From  a 
careful  and  impartial  view,  therefore,  of  the  whole 
subject,   the   undersigned,  in  behalf  of  the   church, 


15 

feel  constrained   to  believe,  that   a  sense  of  duty,  a 
regard  to  the  honor,  the  interest,  and  the  permanent 
good  of  the  people   under  your  pastpral   care,  have 
been  the  u« >\ «-r n  1  mr  motives  which  have  inflm 
you  in  the  decisions  made  upon  the  several  pr. 
tions  submitted  by  the  parish/1 

The  pastor  made  a  communication  to  the  confr 
mittee  of  the  parish,  on  the  29th  of  January,  on  the 
subject  of  a  mutual  council,  in  which  he  declared  his 
ready  consent  to  their  proposal,  if  the  council  were 
regularly  called  according  to  the  usage  of  oui 
churches,  and  to  the  express  desire  of  this  church 
and  »>f  other  respectable  parishioners.  But  neither 
the  parish,  nor  its  committee,  would  allow  the  church 
any  participation  in  the  affair,  nor  admit  its  claims 
to  a  concurrent  voice  with  the  pastor. 

An  ex  parte  council,  called  by  the  committee 
authorized  by  a  former  vote  of  the  parish,  convened 
on  the  19th  of  May,  1829,  and  recommended  To  the 
parish  to  terminate  the  contract  subsisting  between 
them  and  their  minister.  On  the  8th  of  June,  the 
parish  voted  to  accept  the  result  of  that  council,  and 
declared  the  pastor's  connexion  with  the  parish  to 
be  dissolved.  The  pastor,  on  receiving  a  copy  of 
these  transactions  from  the  parish  clerk,  replied  by 
referring  to  his  protest  against  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
ex  parte  council,  and  adding,  that  he  still  considered 
himself  as  the  lawful  minister  of  the  parish,  and 
held  himself  ready  to  perform  any  and  all  of  the 
duties,   in  or   out  of  the   pulpit,  which  belonged   to 


16 

his  office  as  pastor  of  the  first  church  and  society  in 
Cambridge. 

The  church,  with  other  parishioners  who  had  pro- 
tested against  the  proceedings  of  the  parish,  and 
against  the  jurisdiction  of  the  ex  parte  council,  to- 
gether with  other  aggrieved  members  of  the  society, 
considering  Dr.  Holmes  as  still  their  pastor,  and 
knowing  that  he  was  ready  to  perform  any  duties  per- 
taining to  his  pastoral  office,  were  disposed  to  meet 
together  with  one  accord,  in  one  place,  for  an  ap- 
propriate observance  of  the  Lord's  day.  Their  dis- 
position and  desire  being  made  known  to  their  pastor, 
with  information  that  they  would  assemble  at  the  old 
court  house  on  the  ensuing  sabbath,  at  the  usual 
hour  of  divine  service,  their  pastor  met  them  there, 
and  performed  the  service  to  a  full,  attentive,  and 
solemn  assembly. 

An  advisory  council,  being  called  by  letters  missive 
from  the  pastor  and  the  church,  convened  at  Cam- 
bridge on  the  17th  of  June.  The  result  shows  that 
this  council  are  "  unanimously  of  opinion  that  Dr. 
Holmes  has  not  in  any  way  forfeited  his  office  as 
pastor  of  the  first  church  and  parish  in  Cambridge  ; 
and  that  he  is  still,  according  to  ecclesiastical  usage, 
the  pastor  and  minister  of  said  church  and  parish ; 
and  approve  the  course  pursued  by  him  in  continuing 
to  perform  parochial  duties  wherever  and  to  whomso- 
ever he  may  have  opportunity  ;  and  advise  him  and 
the  church,  and  other  friends  of  truth,  not  to  forsake 
the  assembling  of  themselves  together,  but  to  main- 


i; 

lain  divine  worship   and   th*   celebration  of  divine 

ordinam  ■ 

The  church,  U  a  notified  meeting  held  Jane  25th, 
toted  unanimously,  "  that  the  resuh  of  the  council, 
called  by  the  church  and  its  pastor  on  the  17th  inst., 
meets  its  approbation;  and  that  the  counsel  and  ad- 
rice  therein  contained  will  be,  by  divine  aid,  relig- 
iously followed."  Divine  service  was  accordingly 
held  statedly  by  the  pa-tor  and  the  church,  with  a  re- 
spectable number  of  the  society,  at  the  coin  house, 
until  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  for  their  use. 
The  whole  number  of  members  belonging  to  the 
church  at  that  time  was  about  ninety,  full  two  thirds 
of  whom  followed  the  pastor,  and  attended  upon  his 
ministry.  The  number  of  male  members  was  twenty- 
one,  fifteen  of  whom  were  the  uniform  friends  and 
supporters  of  the  pastor,  and  two  only,  took  an  active 
part  in  the  measures  of  the  parish. 

A  society,  composed  of  persons  who  adhered  to  the 
church  and  its  pastor,  had  been  recently  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  supporting  the  gospel  here  in  its 
purity,  by  the  name  of  The  Shepajrd  Congrega- 
tional Society.  With  this  society  the  church,  as 
a  body,  was,  on  the  12th  of  November,  respectfully 
united  to  unite  and  cooperate  according  to  the  rights 
and  usages  of  congregational  churches.  The  pastor, 
not  being  legally  dismissed  from  office  in  the  firsl 
parish,  could  not  consistently  attach  himself  to  tins 
aociety,  and  become,  in  form,  n-  minister.  In 
consideration  of  these  circumstances,  the  church 
2* 


18 

having  consulted  with  their  pastor,  "  whose  relation 
to  us,"  said  they,  "  we  wish  to  hold  sacred  and  invi- 
olable, and  finding  that,  in  present  circumstances, 
the  choice  of  a  colleague  pastor  meets  with  his  entire 
approbation,"  voted ;  "  that  until  such  time  as  our 
rights,  with  those  of  our  pastor,  shall  be  respected, 
and  the  privileges  of  the  gospel  ministry  be  enjoyed, 
as  heretofore,  in  connexion  with  the  first  parish  in 
Cambridge,  we  will,  as  a  church,  accede  to  the  in- 
vitation of  the  said  Shepard  Congregational  Society, 
and  cooperate  with  it  in  maintaining  the  worship  and 
ordinances  of  the  gospel,  according  to  the  established 
principles  and  usages  of  Congregational  churches  in 
this  commonwealth." 

In  pursuance  of  the  object,  and  subject  to  the 
conditions  of  the  preceding  vote,  the  church  pro- 
ceeded to  invite  and  call  Mr.  Nehemiah  Adams,  jr. 
to  the  office  of  colleague  pastor  in  this  church,  in  con- 
nexion with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes  as  senior  pastor. 
A  committee  was  then  chosen,  to  communicate  a 
copy  of  the  preamble  and  votes  to  the  Shepard  Soci- 
ety, and  request  their  concurrence ;  and  in  case  of 
their  concurrence,  to  communicate  to  Mr.  Adams  the 
doings  of  the  church,  and  in  case  of  his  acceptance 
of  the  call,  to  take  all  due  and  usual  measures  in  re- 
lation to  his  ordination.  Mr.  Adams  accepted  the 
call,  and  was  accordingly  ordained  as  colleague  pastor 
of  the  first  church  in  Cambridge,  on  the  17th  day  of 
December,  1829. 

A  lot  of  land   having  been  given   by   Miss   Sarah 


19 

Ann  Dana,  and  funds  sufficient  to  defray  the  expense 
recting  a  suitable  bonse  foi  public  worship  hav- 
ing been  obtained,  the  ground  was  broken  up  for 
that  purpose  od  the  5th  day  of  August,  L830.  At 
-i\  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  the  members 
of  the  church,  with  their  pastors,  repaired  to  the  spot, 
where  a  prayer  was  offered  bj  the  junior  pastor,  and 
a  hymn  was  Bung;  after  which  the  senior  pastor 
briefly  stated  the  causes  which  had  brought  tin  m  to 
that  place,  offered  a  prayer,  and,  after  the  Binging  of 
another  hymn,  pronounced  a  benediction. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  bouse  of  worship  for  the 
First  Church,  in  connexion  with  the  Shepard  Con- 
gregational Society  in  Cambridge,  was  laid  with  ap- 
propriate ceremonies  on  the  21st  day  of  September, 
\>)0.  The  solemnity  was  introduced  with  an  ad- 
dress by  the  senior  pastor;  an  ode,  adapted  to  the 
occasion,  was  then  sung ;  a  prayer  was  then  offered 
by  the  senior  pastor  ;  a  pastoral  letter  from  the  junior 
pastor,  absent  on  account  of  sickness,  was  read  ;  an 
address  and  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Green  of 
Boston  followed  ;  and  the  exercises  were  concluded 
by  a  benediction. 


20 

On  this  occasion,  a  silver  plate  inclosed  in  a  leaden 
box,  presented  by  a  Christian  friend,  was  placed  under 
the  stone  with  this  inscription  : 

TO 

JESUS    CHRIST 

AND 

THE    CHURCH, 

THE  PILLAR  AND  GROUND  OF  THE  TRUTH. 


FIRST  CHURCH  AND  SHEPARD   SOCIETY 

IN    CAMBRIDGE  '. 

Abiel  Holmes,  >    pastoraj 

Nehemiah  Adams,    ) 

William  H.lliaud,  >    Dea 
James  Munroe,  ) 

xxi  September,  mdcccxxx. 


The  corner  stone  was  laid  after  the  introductory 
address  by  the  senior  pastor  ;  and,  while  laying  the 
stone,  he  pronounced  the  following  words  : 

The  Church  is  built  upon  the  Apostles  and  Proph- 
ets, Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone. 
Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid, 
which  is  Jesus  Christ.  May  the  stone  which  we  now 
lay  be  a  true  emblem  of  the  great  corner  stone  upon 
which  the  First  Church  in  Cambridge  was  originally 
built,   and  a  pledge  of  its   permanent    continuance 


•J  I 

upon  the  same  everlasting  foundation,  Jesus  Christ, 
the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever. 

The  house  of  worship,  the  corner  stone  of  which 
had  been  thus  laid,  was  dedicated  to  God  the  Father, 
Sun,  and  Holy  Ghost,  od  the  23d  of  February,  1831, 
The  exercises  at  the  Dedication  were:  An  Introduc- 
tory A  in  li<  ii i  :  [leading  of  the  Scriptures  ;  Cod 
tion  Anthem;  Prayer;  Hymn;  Sermon  bj  the  senior 
pastor,  from  Jeremiah vi.  18  j  Prayer;  Original  Hymn 
by  the  junior  pastor;  Benediction. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1831,  the  Deacon  of  the 
church  of  the  First  Parish  in  Cambridge,  commi  n<  •  d 
a  -mi  at  law  against  William  Ililliard  and  James 
Munroe,  in  their  capacity  as  Deacons  of  the  First 
Church  in  Cambridge,  to  recover  certain  articles  of 
church  property,  as  set  forth  in  the  writ,  and  held  them 
to  answer  to  a  plea  of  the  case,  in  the  penal  sum  of 
five  thousand  dollars.  As  it  had  been  ascertained, 
that,  in  a  e:i-<'  believed  to  be  similar  to  this,  the  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court  of  tin-  Commonwealth  had  de- 
cided that  church  property,  so  called,  belongs  to  the 
parish,  or  to  such  members  of  the  church  as  shall 
adhere  to  the  parish  in  case  of  a  separation,  the 
church,  at  a  regular  meeting,  appointed  .1  committee 
who  were  "  authorized  and  empowered,  with  legal  ad- 
thereto,  further  to  defend  according  to  the  cir- 
cumstances that  might  be  found  to  exist,  or  to  deliver 
up  to  the  demandant  all  such  propertj  of  the  church, 
as  should  be  specified  in  the  schedule  annexed  to  the 
writ,  in  the  suit  of  said  demandant,  and  to  take  his 
legal  discharge  therefor." 


22 

The  committee  appointed  under  this  vote,  having  ob- 
tained legal  advice  upon  the  subject  referred  to  them, 
thought  best  to  deliver  up  the  church  property  to  the 
plaintiff,  and  on  the  28th  day  of  December  the  fol- 
lowing instrument  was  executed  by  him  : 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Abel 
Whitney,  Deacon  of  the  First  Church  in  Cambridge, 
in  behalf  of  said  church,  have  this  day  received  of 
Deacon  William  Hilliard,  and  Deacon  James  Munroe, 
the  property  constituting  the  church  fund,  and  poor's 
fund  belonging  to  said  church,  amounting  in  money, 
and  securities  for  money,  to  the  sum  of  four  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  fifty-four  dollars  and  three 
cents.  Also  the  communion  service  of  said  church, 
consisting  of  four  silver  tankards,  seven  silver  cups, 
one  silver  spoon,  six  britannia  dishes,  two  napkins, 
one  table  cloth,  and  basin,  four  books  of  church 
Records,  and  sundry  files  of  papers,  and  a  trunk 
and  box  containing  the  same.  Also  the  Library  of 
Books,  with  the  shelves  for  the  same,  and  nine  dol- 
lars and  ninety-nine  cents  for  the  same." 

The  church  fund,  for  the  recovery  of  which  this 
suit  was  brought,  was  originally  constituted  by  the 
donation  of  fifty  pounds  by  a  member  of  the  church, 
and  increased  to  the  above  mentioned  sum  entirely 
by  contributions  of  the  church  members  at  the  Lord's 
Supper.  A  part  of  the  church  plate,  above  referred 
to,  was  given  to  the  church,  and  the  rest  was  pur- 
chased with  its  own  funds. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  state,  in  this  connexion, 


29 

that,  while  the  church  was  Buffering  Lrrr:<t  inconve- 
nience from  the  loss  of  its  table  furniture,  the  manu- 
script Autobiography  of  Thomas  Shepard  was  prov- 
identially obtained  by  -Mr.  Adams,  and  a  sufficient 
number  of  copies  were  printed  to  defray  the  expense 
of  a  suitable  communion  service,  which  is  still  in  use. 
Thus,  after  a  period  of  nearly  two  hundred  year-,  the 
founder  of  the  church  was  permitted  to  furnish  it 
with  the  means  of  celebrating  the  ordinances  of  the 
gospel. 

In  September,  1>:;I,  the  senior  pastor,  laboring 
under  continued  and  increasing  debility,  unable  to 
perform  stated,  and  seldom  able  to  perform  occasion- 
al service,  asked  the  consent  of  the  church  to  his 
retiring  from  the  pastoral  cares.  The  church  con- 
sented to  the  request,  and  united  with  the  pastor  in 
calling  a  council  to  sanction  the  procedure,  if  it 
Bhould  see  fit.  The  council  convened  on  the  26th  of 
September,  1^:51,  and  after  due  deliberation,  sanc- 
tioned the  proposed  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  con- 
nexion between  Dr.  Holmes  and  the  church.  Their 
decision  is  thus  declared  in  their  Result  : 

"  A  letter  from  the  senior  pastor  of  the  First 
Church  in  Cambridge,  requesting  a  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  connexion  that  has  sul>-i<t(  d  between  them 
for  nearly  forty  years,  on  account  of  advanced  age 
and  infirmity,  together  with  the  reply  of  the  church, 
consenting  to  such  a  dissolution,  and  uniting  in  the 
choice  of  a  council  for  carrying  it  into  effect  if  they 
see  proper,  were  laid  before  the  council.  Whereupon 
voted,  that,  in   the  opinion   of  this   council,  the  rea- 


24 

sons  assigned  by  the  senior  pastor  for  the  dissolution 
of  his  pastoral  relation,  and  the  consent  on  the  part 
of  the  church,  are  satisfactory  ;  and  that  the  pastoral 
relation  between  the  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes  and  the  First 
Church  in  Cambridge  be,  and  accordingly  it  is, 
hereby  dissolved. 

"It  is  with  mingled  emotions  of  pain  and  satisfac- 
tion, that  this  council  have  attended  to  the  business 
for  which  they  have  been  convened.  While  they 
deeply  regret  the  occasion  that  has  led  to  their  result, 
in  the  bodily  infirmities  attending  the  advancing  age 
of  the  venerated  and  beloved  senior  pastor  of  the 
First  Church  in  Cambridge,  they  are  most  happy  in 
the  reflection  that  the  ministerial  and  Christian  char- 
acter of  Dr.  Holmes  is  unspotted  ;  that  he  has  been 
enabled  by  divine  grace  to  bear  the  peculiar  trials,  to 
which  he  has  been  called  in  the  course  of  his  minis- 
try, with  exemplary  wisdom,  firmness,  meekness,  and 
patience  ;  and  that,  in  the  circumstances  attending 
the  dissolution  of  his  pastoral  connexion,  a  spirit  of 
union  and  harmony  has  been  manifested  by  the  re- 
spective parties  so  deeply  interested. 

"It  is  unnecessary  for  this  council  to  add  any- 
thing by  way  of  testimonial  and  recommendation  to 
a  character  so  well  known  in  this  Commonwealth,  in 
this  country,  and  in  Europe,  as  that  of  the  late  pastor 
of  the  First  Church  in  Cambridge,  the  long  tried  and 
highly  esteemed  friend  of  learning  and  religion.  His 
works  are  his  testimonial,  and  his  praise  is  in  rll  the 
churches." 


Dr.  Holmes  preached  bis  Farewell  Sermon  on  the 
2d  of  October,  1831.  !!<•  died  in  the  exercise  of 
strong  faith,  and  in  the  comforts  of  a  hope  full  of 
immortality,  en  the  12th  day  of  June,  1837,  in  the 
seventy-fourth  rear  of  his  afire. 

Within  three  years  after  the  dismission  of  Dr. 
Holmes,  the  church  was  called  to  part  with  its  re- 
maining pastor.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1*34, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Adams,  having  received  an  invitation 
from  the  Essex  Street  Church  and  Society  in  Boston 
to  become  their  pastor,  and  believing  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  accept  it,  requested  the  church  and  society 
to  unite  with  him  in  calling  an  ecclesiastical  council 
to  dissolve  his  ministerial  connexion  with  them. 
This  request  was  complied  with,  though  with  great 
reluctance,  and  a  council  was  accordingly  invited 
to  assemble  at  Cambridge  for  this  purpose.  The 
council  met  on  the  14th  of  March  following,  and, 
after  serious  deliberation,  unanimously  dismissed  Mr. 
Adams  with  a  view  to  his  acceptance  of  the  call 
from  Boston. 

On  the  30th  of  January,  1835,  the  church  unani- 
mously elected  the  Rev.  John  A.  Albro  their  pastor, 
the  society  concurring  in  the  choice.  Mr.  Albro  sig- 
nified his  acceptance  of  their  call  by  letter  dated 
March  28th  ;  and  on  the  15th  of  April  following,  he 
was  regularly  installed  pastor  of  the  church  and 
society  by  an  ecclesiastical  council  duly  called  for 
that  purpose. 


26 

It  is  impossible  now  to  ascertain  the  names  and  char- 
acters of  those  who  have  held  the  office  of  Deacon  in 
this  church  from  its  organization.  At  the  time  of  its 
separation  from  the  first  parish,  and  union  with  the 
Shepard  Congregational  Society,  which  may  be  re- 
garded as  an  important  epoch  in  its  history,  Wil- 
liam Hilliard  and  James  Munroe  were  its  Deacons. 
Mr.  Hilliard  died  April  27,  1836.  He  was  an  honest 
and  good  man ;  "  not  double-tongued,  not  greedy  of 
filthy  lucre,  holding  the  mystery  of  the  faith  in  a 
pure  conscience."  He  "  used  the  office  of  a  Deacon 
well,  and  purchased  to  himself  a  good  degree,  and 
great  boldness  in  the  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus."* 
On  the  21st  of  April,  1837,  brother  Stephen  T.  Far- 
well  was  chosen  in  the  place  of  Deacon  Hilliard  ; 
and  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  he  was  solemnly 
set  apart  to  the  office  of  Deacon  by  prayer,  according 
to  the  ancient  usage  of  the  congregational  churches. 

We  conclude  this  brief  history  of  our  ancient 
church  in  the  words  of  Solomon  :  Blessed  be  the 
Lord,  that  hath  given  rest  unto  his  people,  according 
to  all  that  he  promised  ;  there  hath  not  failed  one 
word  of  all  his  good  promise,  which  he  promised  by 
the  hand  of  Moses  his  servant.  The  Lord  our  God 
be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers ;  let  him  not 
leave  us,  nor  forsake  us ;  that  he  may  incline  our 
hearts  unto  him,  to  walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  to  keep 
his  commandments,  and  his  statutes,  and  his  judg- 
ments, which  he   commanded  our  fathers.     And  let 

*  1  Tim.  iii.  8,  9,  13. 


27 


the  words  wherewith  we  have  made  supplication  be- 
fore the  Lord,  be  nigh  unto  the  Lord  daj  and  1 1 1  n  1 1 t , 
that  he  maintain  the  can-.'  of  hia  people  at  all  times, 
as  the  matter  shall  require  ;  thai  all  the  people  of  the 
earth  maj  know  that  the  Lord  is  God,  and  that  there 
i-  none  else.* 

*  1  Kin^ri  viii.  5G-G0. 


CONFESSION  OF  FAITH 


"  That  ye  may  with  one  mind  and  one  mouth  glorify  God,  even  the  Fath- 
er of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."—  Rom.  xv.  G. 

"  For  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  righteousness  j  and  with  the 
mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation."  —  Horn.  x.  10. 


The  following  Articles  are,  in  substance,  and  for 
the  most  part  in  language,  taken  from  the  "  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  owned  and  consented  unto  by  the  Elders 
and  Messengers  of  the  churches  assembled  at  Boston, 
May  12,  1680,"  which  is  the  basis  of  the  Confes- 
sions of  all  the  Orthodox  Congregational  Churches 
in  New  England. 


CONFESSION  OF  FAITH, 


ARTICLE    I. 


OF    THE    BEING    OF    GOD. 

There  is  one  only  living  and  true  God1,  who 
is  alone  in  and  unto  himself  all-sufficient3, 
the  fountain  of  life  and  being,  of  whom 
and  through  whom  are  all  things  visible  and 
invisible3,  to  whom  all  intelligent  creat in- 
bound to  render  supreme  homage,  love,  and 
obedience4. 

1  Dcut.  vi.  4.  Coll.  i.  1G,  17. 

1  Thess.  i.  9.  Heb.  i.  2. 

Jer.  x.  10.  John  i.    2 

*  Acts  xvii.   24,  25.  Job  xxvi.  13. 

3  Roin.  xi.  3G.  Job  xxxiii.  1. 

1  Cor.  viii.  4,  6.  4  Rev.  v.  11-11. 

Gen.  i.  1-27.  Rom.  xi.  36. 


32 


ARTICLE    II. 

OF    THE    HOLY    SCRIPTURES. 

Although  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  works 
of  creation  and  providence,  do  so  far  reveal  the 
being  and  attributes  of  God,  as  to  leave  men  in- 
excusable in  their  unbelief1,  yet  it  has  pleased 
him  to  reveal  himself,  and  to  declare  his  will 
more  fully  and  clearly,  in  the  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament2,  which  were  written 
by  divine  inspiration3,  and  are  given  to  mankind 
by  God's  authority4,  as  a  sufficient  revelation  of 
all  things  necessary  to  salvation5,  and  the  only 
perfect  and  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice6, 
by  which  all  doctrines  and  commandments  of 
men  are  to  be  tried,  and  all  religious  controver- 
sies are  to  be  determined7. 

1  Rom.  i.  19,  20.  5  2  Tim.  iii.  16,  17. 

2  Heb.  i.  1,  2.  6  Rev.  xxii.  18,  19. 

3  2  Pet.  i.  21.  Gal.  i.  8. 

4  1  Thess.  ii.  13.  7  Is.  viii.  20. 


ARTICLE   III. 

OF    THE    DIVINE    ATTRIBUTES. 

God  is  a  most   pure  and  perfect  spirit1,  self- 
existent2,  eternal3,  immutable4,  infinite   and  in- 


33 


comprehensible"'  in  holiness6,  wisdom7,  benev- 
olence8, and  power9;    the   rewarder   of   them 

that  diligently  seek  him10 ;  long  suffering,  abund- 
ant in  goodness  and  truth11  ;  ready  to  forgive, 
and  plenteous  in  mercy  to  all  that  call  upon 
him1-;  most  just  and  righteous  in  all  his 
counsels,  works,  commands,  and  judgments13. 

1  John  iv.  24.  10  Heb.  xi.  <i. 

2  John  v.  26.  "  Exod.  xxxiv.  G,  7. 

3  Ps.  •       .  ;-  P8.  lxxxvi.5. 

4  Jam.  i.  17.  i3  Wch.  ix.  32,  33. 

5  Job.  xi.  7-9.  Is.  xxv.  1. 
Ps.  cxiv.  3.  Ps.  xxxiii.  J. 

6  Is.  vi.  3.  Rom.  vii.  12. 

7  Rom.  xi.  33.  Rev.  xvi.  7. 

8  1  John  iv.  8.  Ps.  cxiv.  17. 

9  Gen.  xvii.  1. 


ARTICLE   IV. 

OF    THE    TRINITY. 

In  the  unity  of  the  Godhead  there  are  three 
persons  of  one  substance,  power,  and  eternity  j 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost*. 

1  1  John  v.  7.  John  xv.  2G. 

Malt,  xxviii.  19.  2  Cor.  xiii.  14. 

John  i.  1,2,  3,14,13. 


34 


ARTICLE  V. 

OF    DIVINE    PROVIDENCE. 

God  upholds1,  directs,  disposes,  and  governs 
all  creatures  and  things  from  the  greatest  to  the 
least2,  by  his  most  wise  and  holy  providence3, 
according  to  his  infallible  foreknowledge,4  and 
the  free  and  immutable  counsel  of  his  own  will5, 
to  the  glory  of  his  wisdom,  power,  justice, 
goodness,  and  mercy^. 

1  Heb.  i.  3.  4  Acts  xv.  18. 

2Dan.iv.  34,35.  5  Eph.  i.  11. 

Ps.  cxxxv.  6.  Ps.  xxxiii.  11. 

Matt.  x.  29-31.  6  Eph.  iii.  10. 
3  Prov.  xv.  3.  Rom.  ix.  17. 

2  Chron.  xvi.  9.  Ps.  cxlv.  7. 


ARTICLE   VI. 


OF    THE    CREATION    AND    FALL    OF    MAN. 


God  created  the  first  parents  of  our  race 
with  rational  and  immortal  souls1,  endued  with 
knowledge,  righteousness,  and  true  holiness, 
after  his  own  image2,   and  gave  them  a  holy 


35 


law  with  the  promise  of  life  to  them,  and  in 
them  to  their  posterity,  upon  condition  of  per- 
fect and  personal  obedience3 ;  but  they  by  volun- 
tarily transgressing  the  divine  command,  in  cit- 
ing the  forbidden  fruit4,  fell  from  their  state  of 
original  righteousness  and  communion  with 
God-"',  into  a  s  sin  and  death6  ;     in  conse- 

quence of  which,  they  being  the  root,  and  the 
public  representatives  of  all  mankind7,  th<  ii 
whole  posterity  are  by  nature  alienated  from 
God8,  entirely  unholy  and  corrupt9,  inclim 
all  evillu,  under  the  condemnation  of  the  divine 
law11,  and  subject  to  death,  temporal  and 
nal12. 

1  Gen.  ii.  7.  Coll.  i.  21. 
Eccl.  xii.  7.  9  Gen.  vi.  5. 
M  itt.  x.  28.  Ps.  Ii.  1. 

2  Gen.  i.  26.  Job  x\.  I  I. 
Eccl.  \ ii.  29.  Jer.  .wii.  :». 

3  Gen.  ii.  1G,  17.  ,.  viii.  21. 
Ron i.  ii.  14,  15.  Rom.  iii.  10-  12 
Gen.  iii.  22.  limn.  \ii.  1'). 
Rom.  \.  5.  Matt.  xv.   10. 

«  Gen.  ii.  17.  »  Gal.  iii.  10. 
Rom.    ii.  15.  John  iii.    1  B. 

Q    o.  iii.  6,  11.  Eph.  ii.  3. 

5  Gen.  iii.  7.  3.  '-Jam.  i.  I  I,  L5. 

:.  iii.  23.  1  Cr.  xv.  21,  22, 

6  Gen.  iii.  17-10.  Rom.  vi.  23. 

'  Acts  wii.  26.  Rom.  v.  12-10. 

B  Rom.  viii.  7.  Matt.  x.w.   11. 

Eph.  iv.  18.  2Thes8.  i.  9. 


36 


ARTICLE  VII. 


OF    THE    REDEEMER. 


The  Son  of  God,  the  second  person  in  the 
Trinity,  in  accordance  with  an  eternal  purpose 
of  grace1,  freely  undertook  the  work  of  re- 
deeming and  saving  fallen  men2  ;  and  when  the 
fulness  of  time  was  come3,  he  took  upon  him 
man's  nature4,  with  all  its  essential  properties 
and  common  infirmities5,  yet  without  sin6,  being 
born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost7 ;  was  made  under,  and  perfectly 
fulfilled,  the  divine  Law  given  to  men8;  suf- 
fered in  soul  and  in  body  for  our  sins9,  the 
just  for  the  unjust10,  and  became  obedient  un- 
to death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross11 ;  and, 
having  by  his  perfect  obedience12,  sufferings13, 
and  sacrifice  of  himself14,  which  he  through 
the  eternal  Spirit  once  offered  up  to  God15, 
made  a  full  and  complete  atonement  for 
sin16,  and  obtained  eternal  redemption  for  all 
that  obey  him17,  he  rose  from  the  dead18, 
and  ascended  into  heaven  to  the  glory  which 
he  had  with  the  Father  before  the  world  was19, 
where   he   ever  liveth    to    make    intercession 


for  us90,  and  from  whence  he  will  com- 

both  the  Living  and  the  dead  at  the  end  of  the 

world21. 

I  Eph.  Lit.  9-  \-2.  i;  n.  x.  19 
l  !'.  i.  i.  I  ll.  b.  ji.  10. 
I  Tim.   ii.  6.  "  II.  I..  \j 

[s.  Iv.    I.  ■"..  Heb.  mi.  23 

1  Cor.  i.  Eph. 

G  :l.  iv.  4.  II.  b.  i\.  1  J. 

4  John  i.  1,14.  l0  Rom.  ii     ! 

II.  !..  ii.  L6.  Rom.  v.  II. 

Phil.  ii.  :.  II.  b.  v.  9. 

II.  b.  ii.  it.  II.  b.  ix.  12. 

Heb.  n  .  1"..  1  These.  < 

Heb.  x.  :.. 

2  Cor.  v.  21.  i  Cor.  rv.  I 

1  Pet.  ii.  Lake  xxiv.  5, 

1  John  iii.  4. 

"  Luke  i.  27,  31,  35.  "  Lake  xxiv.  50,  51. 

8  Gal.  iv.  4.  ITi.n.  iii.  16 

M  itt.  v.  IT.  John  xvii.  ."». 

M  itt.  \xm.  :;;  R  »m.  viii.  34. 

Luke  xxii.  24.  Heb.  vii. 

Matt,  xxvii.  16.  2I  Acta  i.  1  I. 

10  1  Pet.  in.  18.  \   ■-    x.  12. 

II.  b.  xiii.  \-l.  Etom.  xiv.  9,  10. 

1  Pet.  iv.  1.  1  r,  ;.  iv.  5. 

II  Phil.  ii.  8.  •.  xiii.  10-  13. 
Matt.  xx\ii.  35.  M  M.  x\v.  31  -  46. 
1  Cor.  i.    -  Jud\ 


38 


ARTICLE   VIII. 

OF    THE    HOLY    GHOST. 

The  Holy  Ghost,  proceeding  from  the  Father 
and  the  Son1,  is  the  only  author  of  regenera- 
tion2, sanctification3,  and  new  spiritual  life  and 
obedience  in  man4 ;  and  without  his  gracious  and 
effectual  work  in  the  soul,  no  sinner  can  ever 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  Gods. 

1  John  xiv.  26.  1  Pet.  i.  2. 

2  Tit.  iii.  5.              5  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26,  27. 
John  i.  12, 13.  John  vi.  37,  44. 

3  Rom.  xv.  16.  1  Cor.  ii.  14. 
2  Thess.  ii.  13.  Eph.  ii.  5. 

4  Rom.    viii.   2.  John  iii.  5,  6. 
John   vi.  63. 


ARTICLE   IX. 


OF    ELECTION. 


God  from  eternity,  according  to  his  immuta- 
ble purpose,  and  the  most  wise  and  holy  coun- 
sel of  his  own  will1,  hath  chosen  in  Christ  a  great 
number  of  the  fallen  race  of  Adam  unto  ever- 


39 

lasting  life  and  glory*,  to  the  praise  of  his   free 
and  sovei 

Heb.   \i.    17.  John  ri.  I 
Eph.  ..  I,  ll. 

2Tim.  i.  9.  >Eph.i.6,  12. 

Eph.  iii.  I  I.  Col 

<•  i.5,  ll.  Phil.  i.  n. 

2TheB8.  .i.  13.  I  r         . 

John    xv.    l'l.  2  Cor.  iv    15. 
Rev.  vii.  0-  14. 


ARTICLE   X. 

OF      EFFECTUAL      CALLING,      JUSTIFICATION,      ADOP- 
TION,    SANCTIFICATION,     AND     PERSEVERANCE. 

All  those  whom  God  hatli  chosen  unto  eter- 
nal life,  he  effectually  calls1,  by  his  word 
and  spirit"2,  out  of  that  state  of  sin  and  death  in 
which  they  are  by  nature,  to  a  state  of  grace 
and  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ3;  enlightening 
their  minds  spiritually  and  savingly  to  under- 
stand divine  things1,  inclining  them  to  that 
which  is  good"',  and  ellectually  drawing  them 
to  Christ8,  yet  so.  that  they  come  most  freely, 
being  made  willing  by  his  grace7  : 

Matt  ix.  13.  *  Acts  xxvi.  Is. 
Rom.  viii.  30.  1  Cor.  ii.  10,  12. 

Eph.  L  10.  5Phil.  ii.  13. 
Rom.  viii.  28.  Deut.  xxx.  6. 

-  2  These,  ii.  13,  1 1.  I 

3  Rom.  viii.  2.  I  |  \\\  i.   27. 

2  Tim.  i.  9,  10.  6  John  vi.  :J7  -  1.3. 

Eph.  ii.  1-8  I'-.  cx.». 


40 

He  justifies  them  freely^ ;  by  pardon- 
ing their  sins9,  and  accepting  them  as  right- 
eous10 ;  not  on  account  of  any  works  of  right- 
eousness done  by  them11,  but  solely  for  Christ's 
sake,  through  faith  in  his  blood^ : 

8  Rom.  iii.  24.  Rom.  iv.  6. 
Rom.  viii.  30.  15J  Rom.  iii.  20  -  26. 

9  2  Cor.  v.  19,  21.  Rom.  v.  1. 
Jer.  1.  20.  Rom.  iv.  5-8. 
Heb.  viii.  12.                                 Eph.  ii.  8. 

10  Rom.  v.  19.  Rom.  iii.  25. 
Heb.  xi.  4.  Phil.  iii.  9. 

11  Titus  iii.  5,  7. 


He  grants  unto  them  the  grace  of 
Adoption13;  by  which  they  are  taken  into  the 
number,  and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  God's  chil- 
dren14, receive  the  spirit  of  adoption  whereby 
they  are  enabled  to  cry  Abba,  Father,  the  spirit 
itself  bearing  witness  that  they  are  the  children 
of  God15,  are  sealed  to  the  day  of  redemption16, 
and  inherit  the  promises  as  heirs  of  salvation17 : 

13  Eph.  i.  5.  Gal.  iv.  6. 
Gal.  iv.  4,  5.  16  Eph.  iv.  30. 

14  Rom.  viii.  17.  l7  Heb.  vi.  12. 
John  i.  12.  1  Pet.  i.  4. 

15  Rom.  viii.  15,  16.  Rom.  viii.  17. 

He  sanctifies  them  by  his  word  and 
spirit  dwelling  in  them18 ;  destroying  the  domin- 


II 

ion  of  Bin19,  creating  a  clean  heart,  and  renewing 
a  right  spirit  within  them90,  working  in  them  all 
that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  hi*  Bight  I 

gthening  them  to  the  practice  of  true  hoii- 
without    which    no   man    Bhall    see    the 
Lord 

i  ,  ::  Ps.  li.  10. 

1  I    >r.  vi.  11.  Titus  in.  5. 

2  These,  ii.  IS.  Heb.  xiii.  21. 
Rom.  vi.  6     11.  I  ol.  i.  11 

R   :  ..  viii.  13.  Eph,  iii.  16. 

Gal.  v.  24.  2  Cor.  vii.  1. 

20  Coll.  iii.  10.  Heb.  xii.  14. 


Finally,  though   they  often  griev 
Holy  Spirit  by  their  sins28,  he   does  not   \  t 

them  to  fall  totally  and  finally  from  the  state  of 
grace  ;   but   keeps  them  by  his  power,  th. 
faith,  unto  eternal  salvation''1. 

*  Eph.  iv.  30.  Jer.  xxxi.  3. 

Is.  lxiv.  7,  9.  John  xvii.  11-21. 

Rev.  ii.  4.  Heb.  vii.  26. 

Phil.  i.  6.  Jer.  xxxii.  W. 

John  x.  28,  29.  1  Pet.  i.  3  -  7. 
2  Tim.  iv.  IS. 


42 


ARTICLE   XI. 


OF    GOOD    WORKS. 


Although  we  cannot  merit  pardon  of  sin,  or 
eternal  life  by  any  works  of  our  own1,  it  is  our 
duty  to  live  a  godly,  righteous,  and  sober  life, 
according  to  the  will  of  God2  ;  and  by  good 
works,  done  in  obedience  to  the  divine  law3,  and 
by  the  grace  of  Christ  working  in  us4,  wTe  are  to 
show  the  genuineness  of  our  faith5,  manifest 
our  thankfulness6,  strengthen  our  assurance7, 
adorn  our  profession  of  the  gospel8,  and  glorify 
God9,  whose  workmanship  we  are,  created  in 
Christ  Jesus  thereunto10,  that,  having  our  fruit 
unto  holiness,  we  may  have  the  end  eternal 
life11. 


1  Rom.  iii.  20. 
Rom.  iv.  2,  4,  6. 
Eph.  ii.  8,  9. 

2  Titus  ii.  12. 
Heb.  xiii.  21. 
Rom.  xii.  1,  2. 

3  Micah  vi.  8. 
Rom.  vii.  12. 
Rom.  xv.  IS. 
Jer.  vii.  23. 

4  John  xv.  5,  6. 
Phil.  ii.  13. 
Phil.  iv.  13. 


2  Cor.  iii.  5. 

5  James  ii.  18,  22. 

6  Ps.  cxvi.  12,  13. 

1  Pet.  ii.  9. 

7  John  ii.  3,  5. 

2  Pet.  i.  5-10. 
s  Titus  ii.  5-10. 
9  Matt.  v.  16. 

1  Pet.  ii.  12. 
Phil.  i.  11. 
John  xv.  8. 

10  Eph.  ii.  10. 

11  Rom.  vi.  22. 


43 


A R Tl CL E    X  I  I 


OF    REP]  ami    FAITH. 

In   the    gospel,   pardon  and    eternal   life  are 
.  offered  to  pinners,  upon  condition  i 
pentance  towards  God1,  mid  faith   in   the   Lord 
]  Christ2;   and   without   these  evangelical 

graces  no  man  can  be  saved3. 

1  Is.  to.  7.  Acts  xx.  21. 

..  xviii.  30,  31.  Rom.  iii.  22. 

Luke  xxiv.  47.  Gal.  in.  26. 

-  Pet  iii.  9.  ^  Luke  xiii.  3,  3. 

Acts  iii.  19.  80. 

31,  John  iii.  36. 
John  i.  12. 


ARTICLE   XIII. 

OF    THE    MINISTRY    OF    THE    WORD. 

The  ministry  of  the  word  being  the  divinely 
appointed  means,  whereby,  ordinarily,  sinners 
are    turned   from  darkness    to   light,   and   from 


44 

the  power  of  Satan  unto  God1,  all  persons  are 
required  and  encouraged  to  attend  upon  this 
ordinance,2  with  dependence  upon  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Holy  Ghost  without  which  no 
means  are  sufficient  for  their  conversion3 ;  and 
all  hope  of  salvation  in  voluntary  neglect  of  it 
is  presumptuous  and  vain4. 


1  Luke  xxiv.  47. 

Matt,  x.7-27 

Mark  iii.  14. 

Actsxxvi.  16-18. 

1  Cor.  ix.  16. 

Rom.  x.  14  -  17. 
~  Josh.  iii.  9. 

Is.  lv.  3. 

Acts  x.  22. 

Acts  xiii.  7,  44. 

Micah  iv.  1,  2. 


3  John  xiv.  26. 
Acts  i.  2,  8. 
Acts  viii.  14-17. 
Acts  x.  44. 
Acts  xix.  2. 

1  Thess.  i.  5,  6. 

4  Ps.  xlii.  4. 
Heb.  x.  25. 

2  Tim.  iv.  2-4. 
Heb.  xii.  25. 
Is.  lxv.  11, 12. 


ARTICLE   XIV. 


OF    THE    CHURCH. 


God  has  a  visible  church  upon  earth1  j  which 
is  represented  in  the  Scriptures  as  a  holy,  spir- 
itual kingdom2,  established  upon  the  foundation 
of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  him- 


self    being   the   chief   corner-stone,   in    whom 
the   whole   is  joij  ther3 ;    embracii 

its   members  and   subjects  all  the   peculiar 
enant    people  of   God  throughout  the  world4; 
and  built  11 1 »  by  divim  from  ag< 

as  a  habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit5. 

1  1  Tim.  iii.  15.  Ps,  ii.  8. 

1  Cor.  i.  2. 

1  I  Pet  ii.  9.  Acts  ii.  89. 

Eph.  v.  26,  87,  1  Cor.  vii.  1  I. 

Col.  i.  12,  13.  Rom.  iL  l". 

Joho  iii.  5.  Gal.  iii.  •>,  1  I. 

1  Cor.  iii.  17,  18.  .  ii.  21,22. 

3  Matt.  xvi.  18.  Pa  cxxxii.  13-13. 

Col.  i.  18.  2  Cor.  vi.  16. 

Eph.  i.  22,  23.  Ps.  cxlvii.  2. 

Eph.  ii.  19-21.  Rev.  xxi.  3. 

1  Gen.  xvii.  7.  Matt.  xvi.  18. 

1  Cor.  xii.  12,  13. 


ARTICLE   XV. 

OF    THE    SACRAMENTS. 


The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  instituted  two 
sacraments,  as  holy  signs  and  seals  of  the  cov- 
enant of  grace1,  of  the  same  spiritual  Mollifica- 
tion as  the  corresponding  Sacraments  of  the  Old 


46 

Testament^  to  be  observed  in  the  church  until 
the  end  of  the  world3,  namely,  Baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper4  ;  the  design  of  which  is  to  repre- 
sent Christ  and  his  benefits,  to  confirm  our  in- 
terest in  him,  and  solemnly  to  engage  us  to  the 
service  of  God  according  to  his  word5. 

1  Gen.  xvii.  7.  4  Matt,  xxviii.  19. 

Rom.  iv.  11.  1  Cor.  xi.  23. 

2lCor.  x.  1-4.  5lCor.  x.  16. 

1  Cor.  v.  7,  8.  1  Cor.  xi.  25,  26. 

3  Matt,  xxviii.  19,  20.  Gal.  iii.  27. 

1  Cor.  xi.  26.  Rom.  vi.  3,  4. 


ARTICLE   XVI. 


OF    BAPTISM. 


Baptism  is  a  Sacrament  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, ordained  by  Christ1,  to  be  unto  the  party 
baptized  a  sign  and  seal  of  the  covenant  of 
grace2 ;  of  his  solemn  admission  into  the  visible 
church3  ;  of  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  re- 
newing and  sanctifying  the  heart4  ,*  and  of  his 
obligation  to  walk  in  newness  of  life5.  The  prop- 
er subjects  of  the  ordinance  are  professing  be- 
lievers and  their  households6 ;  and  it  is  rightly 
administered   by  sprinkling   or   pouring   water 


upon   the  person  in  the   name  of  the  Father,  of 

the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost7. 


\\\iii.  1!». 
■  Rom.  to.  11. 
Col.  ii.  11. 

3  1  Cor.  xii.  13. 
Gal.  in.  27,  28. 

4  Tit.  iii.  5. 
Acta  ii.  88. 
Mark  i.  8. 

5  Rom.  vi.  :}.  I. 

k  \\i.  15,  16. 
Acts  viii.  37. 
Gen.  xvii.  7,  9. 
Gal.  iii.  9,  14. 
Rom.  to.  11,  12. 
Acta  ii.  38,  39. 
Acts  xvi.  li,  15,  33. 
Col.  ii.  11,  12. 


I  Cor.  vii.  1  I. 
Mark  i.  18,  1  i 
Luke  \\ iii.  l">. 

..    IT. 

Matt.  w.  in.  19. 

II  b.  ix.  19. 
Levit.  xvi.  -1-  7. 
Numb.  viii.  7. 
[g.  In.  15. 
Ezek.  wwi.  2">. 
Heb. 

Zech.  xii.  10. 
Is.  xliv.  3. 
Joel  ii.  28,  29. 
Acts  ii.  17,  13. 


ARTICLE   XVII. 


OF    THE     LORDS     SUPPER. 


The  Lord's  Supper,  consisting  of  bread  and 
wine  set  apart  from  a  common  to  a  holy  use  by 
prayer1,  was  instituted  by  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ-,  as  the  sacrament  of  his  body  and  blood3, 
to  show  forth  perpetually  the  sacrifice  of  him- 
self in  his  death  J ;  to  seal  to  believers  the  bene- 
fits of  his  atonement3;  to  promote  the  spiritual 
nourishment  and  growth  of  all    who   worthily 


48 

receive  it6 ;  to  be  a  bond  of  their  communion 
with  Christ  and  with  each  other  as  members  of 
his  spiritual  body7  ;  and  is  to  be  administered 
to  all  who  make  a  credible  profession  of  evan- 
gelical faith,  and  maintain  a  blameless  walk  and 
conversation  according  to  the  word  of  God8. 

1  Matt.  xxvi.  26,  27.  i  i  Cor,  Xt  16>  17j  21. 

2  1  Cor.  xi.  23  -  26.  1  Cor.  xii.  13. 

3  1  Cor.  x.  16,  17,  21.  8  1  Cor.  v.  6  -  8. 

4  1  Cor.  xi.  24  -  27.  1  Cor.  x.  28. 

5  2  Cor.  i.  21,  22.  1  Cor.  xi.  27,  29. 

6  Eph.  iv.  15,  16.  2  Cor.  vi.  14-16. 
Eph.  ii.  21.  2  Thess.  iii.  6,  14,  15 
Coll.  ii.  19.  Matt.  vii.  6. 


ARTICLE   XVIII. 

OF    THE    CHRISTIAN    SABBATH. 

God  has  appointed  one  day  in  seven  as  a 
sabbath  to  be  kept  holy  unto  him1  ;  which 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ  was  the  last  day  of  the 
week2,  and  from  the  resurrection  of  Christ 
was  changed  into  the  first  day  of  the  week3, 
called  in  Scripture  the  Lord's  day4,  and  is  to  be 
continued  to  the  end  of  the  world  as  the 
Christian  sabbath5. 

1  Exod.  xx.  8 -  11.  Acts  xx.  7. 
Is.  lxvi.  2,  4,  6.  4  Rev.  i.  10. 

2  Gen.  ii.  3.  5  Exod.  xx.  8,  10. 

3  1  Cor.  xvi.  1,  2.  Matt.  v.  17, 18. 


Ill 


ARTICLE   XIX. 

OF    RELIGOl        w     as  HIP. 

Religious  worship,  in  the  mode  prescribed  in 
the  Scriptures1,  is  to  be  rendered  unto  God,  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and  to  him  alone9, 
in  the  public  and  solemn  assemblies  of  the 
saints  on  the  sabbath-'*,  in  secret4,  and  in  private 
families  daily"':  with  understandings,  faith7, 
love8,  reverence,  and  godly  fear9  ;  through  the 
mediation  of  Christ  our  only  redeemer  and  in- 
tercessor10. 

1  Dcut.  xii.  32.  &  Jtr.  x.  •-'.. 

Matt.  xv.  9.  Jul, 

fMatt.  iv.  10.  2  Sam.  vi    L6 

John  v.  23.  M  itt.  vi,  II. 

2  Cor.  xiii.  11.  Josh,  xxiv.  15 

Rev.  v.  11-13.  cPs.  xl\n.  ?. 

Col.  ii.  18.  '  Jam.  i.  6. 

Rev.  xix.  10.  Markxi.  24. 

3  Is.  hi.  7.  'Rev.  ii.  4. 

Hcl».  x.25.  Hefa    w   26 

Fruv.  viii.  34.  .i  >hn  xiv.  6. 

Act,;  ii.  42.  1  Tim.  i 

1  Mitt.  vi.  G.  Eph.  ii.  1-. 

Eph.  vi.  1  -. 


50 
ARTICLE  XX. 

OF    THE    COMMUNION    OF    SAINTS. 

All  the  visible  covenant  people  of  God,  being 
united  to  Jesus  Christ  their  common  head  by 
faith1,  and  to  each  other  by  holy  love2,  are  bound 
to  maintain  communion  and  fellowship  in  the 
worship  and  ordinances  of  God's  house3;  in  the 
performance  of  such  spiritual  services  as  tend 
to  their  mutual  edification4;  and  in  relieving 
each  others'  necessities  according  to  their  ability 
and  opportunity5. 

1  1  John  i.  3.  4  Rom.  xiv.  19. 
Eph.  iii.  16,  17.  1  Thess.  v.  11. 

2  Phil.  ii.  1,  %  5  1  John  iii.  17. 
Eph.  iv.  15,  16.  Acts  xi.  29,  30. 

3  Heb.  x.  24,  25.  Gal.  vi.  10. 
Acts  ii.  42,  46. 


ARTICLE  XXI. 

OF    THE    STATE    OF    MAN    AFTER   DEATH. 

At  death,  the  bodies  of  men  return  to  dust 
from  which  they  were  originally  taken1,  but 
their  souls,  which  are  immortal2,  immediately 
return  to  God  who  gave  them3 ;  the  righteous 


being  received  into  heaven,  where  they  behold 
the  face  of  God  in  glory,  waiting  for  the  re- 
demption of  their  bodies1,  and  the  finally  impeni- 
reserved  in  darkness  unto  the  Judgment  to 
be  punished6. 

1  Gen.  iii.  10.  «Hcb.  xii.  23. 

Acts  xiii.  36.  Phil.  i.  23. 

■  Gen.  ii.  7.  1  John  iii.  2. 

Matt.  x. '.'-.  2  Cor.  v.  1-8. 

Rev.  xx.  4.  8  Luke  xvi.  23,  24. 
3  Luke  xxiii.  43.  J  1'ct.  ii.  9. 

Eccl.  xii.  7. 


ARTICLE   XXII. 


ME  NT. 


C4od  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will 
raise  the  dead1,  and  judge  the  world  in  right- 
eousness by  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  all  power 
and  judgment  belong2 ;  when  all,  who  have 
lived  upon  earth,  shall  appear  before  his  tri- 
bunal to  give  an  account  of  the  deeds  done 
in  the  body,  and  to  receive  according  to  what 
they  have  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  evil1 : 
then  the  righteous,  being  made  perfect  in  ho- 
liness,  and    united    to    bodies    fashioned    like 


52 

unto  Christ's  glorious  body4,  will  enter  into 
eternal  life  and  blessedness5 ;  and  the  wicked, 
receiving  bodies  raised  to  dishonor6,  will  be 
punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his 
power7. 


1  Acts  xxiv.  15. 
John  v.  28,  29. 
Job.  xix.  26. 

1  Cor.  xv.  12-21. 

2  Acts  xvii.  31. 
John  v.  22,  27. 

3  2  Cor.  v.  10. 
Eccl.  xii.  14. 
Rom.  ii.  16. 
Rom.  xiv.  10, 12. 
Matt.  xii.  36,  37. 
Rev.  xx.  12. 


4  Phil.  iii.  21. 

1  Cor.  xv.  42-49. 

5  Matt.  xxv.  31-34. 
Rom.  ii.  7. 

Luke  xx.  36. 
Rev.  xx.  6. 

6  Dan.  xii.  2. 

7  Rom.  ii.  5,  6. 

2  Thess.  i.  7,  8. 
Matt.  xxv.  41,  46. 
Rev.  xx.  15, 


FORM  OF  ADMISSION. 


The  candidate  having  taken  his  place  before  the  Com- 
munion Table,  the  minister  offers  up  a  brief  prayer,  after 
•which  he  says : 

Dearly  Beloved, 

You  have  presented  yourself  in  this  holy- 
place,  to  make  a  public  profession  of  your  re- 
ligions faith,  and  to  enter  into  an  everlasting 
covenant  with  God  and  his  people.  We  trust 
you  have  well  considered  the  nature  of  this  sol- 
emn transaction,  and  are  prepared  by  an  unction 
from  the  Holy  One,  to  give  yourself  up  as  a  liv- 
ing sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable  unto  Gud, 
through  Jesus  Christ. 

Having  carefully  examined,  and  fully  assent- 
ed to  the  creed  of  this  Church,  as  set  forth  in 
its  printed  Confession,  do  you  now  publicly  and 
solemnly  profess  your  entire  and  cordial  belief 
in  each  and  every  article  of  it,  and  your  sincere 


54 

desire  and  resolution,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  to 
walk  with  this  Church  in  the  unity  and  fellow- 
ship of  this  faith  ? 

Here  the  ordinance  of  Baptism  is  to  be  administered, 
unless  the  candidate  was  baptized  in  infancy. 

The  minister  then  says : 

You  will  now  enter  into  covenant  with  God, 
and  with  this  church. 

THE   COVENANT. 

In  the  presence  of  God,  angels,  and  this  as- 
sembly, you  do  this  day  avouch  the  Lord  Jeho- 
vah, Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  your 
God  and  portion  forever.  You  acknowledge 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Redeemer,  and 
the  Holy  Spirit,  as  your  Sanctifier,  Comforter, 
and  Guide.  Renouncing  all  hope  of  eternal  life 
through  works  of  righteousness  which  you  have 
done,  your  entire  trust  is  in  the  blood  of  Jesus, 
and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Deeply  sensible  of  your  obligations  to  redeem- 
ing love,  you  hereby  devote  yourself  to  God,  in 
the  everlasting  covenant  of  his  grace,  consecrat- 
ing all  that  you  have  and  are  to  his  glory,  and 
the  advancement  of  his  kingdom  in  the  world. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  your  heart  henceforth  to 
lead  a  sober,  righteous,  and  godly  life,  abstaining 
from  the  vanities  of  the  world,  and  taking  the 


principles  of  Christ's  religion,  as  declared  in  his 
sermon  on  the  mount,  to  govern  your  intercourse 
with  your  fellow  men. 

You  now  cordially  join  yourself  to  this 
church,  as  a  true  church  of  Christ  :  and  relying 
upon  that  Grace  which  is  able  to  keep  you  from 
falling,  you  promise  to  walk  in  communion  and 
fellowship  with  it  ;  to  observe  faithfully  its 
special  ordinances  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper,  as  well  as  its  solemn  assemblies  ;  to 
submit  to  the  government  and  discipline  which 
it  has  adopted  :  to  watch  over  its  interests  ;  to 
labor  for  its  peace,  edification,  and  purity  ;  to 
avoid  every  occasion  of  oilence;  and  to  exercise 
towards  its  members  a  spirit  of  meek,  forgiv- 
ing, and  faithful  love. 

This  you  solemnly  profess  and  engage. 

Here  the  members  of  the  church  will  ru 

The  members  of  this  church  now  ex; 
their  willingness  to  enter  into  covenant  with 
you.  They  cordially  welcome  you  to  a  com- 
munion of  labors  and  of  privileges.  They  en- 
gage to  watch  over  you  in  the  Lord  with  Chris- 
tian tenderness  and  affection,  and  to  promote  to 
the  extent  of  their  power  your  growth  in  grace, 
your  happiness,  and  your  usefulness. 

I,  then,  as  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  do 
in    his  name   acknowledge   and   declare   you  a 


56 

member  of  his  visible  kingdom,  and  entitled  to 
its  privileges  and  blessings,  which  are  well  order- 
ed in  all  things  and  sure.  This  people  is  your 
people,  and  their  God,  your  God.  Now  there- 
fore you  are  no  more  a  stranger  and  foreigner, 
but  a  fellow  citizen  of  the  saints,  and  of  the 
household  of  God,  and  are  built  upon  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Apostles  and  Prophets,  Jesus 
Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone.  In 
him,  may  this  building,  fitly  framed  together, 
grow  into  a  holy  temple  in  the  Lord ;  and  in  it, 
may  you  be  builded  for  a  habitation  of  God 
through  the  Spirit.     Amen. 


PRACTICAL  RULES 


FOR   THE 


DIRECTION  OF  THE  CONSCIENCE. 


"  That  the  man  of  God  may  bo  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all 
good  works."— 2  Tim.  iii.  17. 


I'I!.\<TI<  \l.    RULES. 


1.  Maintain,  according  to  your  ability  and 
opportunity,  all  the  ordinances  which  Christ  has 
instituted  for  his  own  glory,  and  the  edification 
of  the  Church. 

Zach.  xiv.  18.  1  Cor.  xiv.  12.  Luke  i.  G.  Heb.  xiii.  15, 1G. 
Heb.  x.  23-25.    Is.  lviii.  2.    Mai.  iii.  7. 

2.  Regard  the  favor  and  everlasting  enjoy- 
ment of  God,  as  the  great  end  of  life,  and  let  all 
your  plans  and  efforts  in  the  world  have  prima- 
ry reference  to  this  end. 

Ps.  lxxiii.  24  -  2G.     John  xvii.  22,  24. 

3.  Contemplate  the  obedience,  sacrifice,  me- 
diation, and  intercession  of  Christ,  as  the  pro- 
curing cause  of  all  blessings  temporal,  spiritual, 
and  eternal ;  and  gratefully  acknowledge  hi  in  as 
the  only  source  of  your  peace  and  joy. 

Col.  i.  19.     Matt,  xxviii.  18.     Heb.  vii.  25.     Eph.  i.  11,  14 


60 

4.  Earnestly  strive  to  walk  in  Christ's  steps, 
and  to  be  holy  as  he  is  holy,  that  you  may 
adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  your  Saviour  in  all 
things,  and  recommend  the  religion  of  the  gos- 
pel to  the  consciences  and  hearts  of  your  fellow 
men. 

1  John  ii.  6.  Eph.  i.  4.  1  Pet.  i.  15.  Tit.  ii.  10. 
2  Cor.  iv.  2. 

5.  Ever  keep  in  mind  that  love  to  God  and 
zeal  for  his  glory  are  the  highest  duties  of  the 
Christian  ;  and  judge  of  your  acceptable  per- 
formance of  them,  not  by  occasional  excitement, 
but  by  your  habitual  frame  of  mind  ;  by  the 
punctual  and  steady  discharge  of  the  obligations 
which  rest  upon  you  as  Christians ;  by  your 
cheerful  submission  to  the  divine  will ;  and  by 
your  constant  and  earnest  efforts  to  promote  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  in  the  world. 

Deut.  vi.  5.  1  Cor.  x.  31.  Gal.  vi.  9.  Mark  iii.  35. 
Matt.  vi.  10.     Acts  i.  8.    Acts  v.  42. 

6.  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  ho- 
ly according  to  the  commandment  ;  and  en- 
deavor to  avoid  all  disturbance  and  wandering 
of  mind  in  the  services  of  the  Sanctuary ;  to 
banish  worldy  cares  from  the  heart,  and  ex- 
clude secular  subjects  from  conversation  on  the 


Lord's  day  ;  and  to  make  it  a  season  of  sacred 
rest,  and  of  holy  enjoyment. 

E     1.  xx.  8-  11.      1  Chron.  xvi.  29.      John  iv.   . 
ii.  13,  14.    Is.  lvi.  2,  4. 

7.  Maintain  the  daily  worship  of  God  in  the 
family,  and    in   the   closet;   and    that    you 
avoid  all  coldness  and  formality  in  this  Bervice, 
prepare  yourselves  for  it  by  devout  reading  and 
meditation. 

Mai.  i.  11.  1  Tim.  xi.  8.  Job  i.  5.  2  Sam.  vi.  18,  20. 
Josh,  xx  iv.  15,     Matt  vi.  0.     Eph.  vi.  18. 

S.  Set  apart  convenient  and  sufficient  seasons 
for  a  prayerful,  systematic,  and  thorough  study 
of  the  Bible,  that  you  may  grow  in  knowledge 
and  in  spiritual  understanding  of  divine  truth  : 
that  you  may  he  able  to  serve  and  worship  God 
according  to  his  will  ;  that  you  may  not  be 
tossed  to  and  fro,  and  blown  about  by  every  wind 
of  doctrine  ;  and  that  you  may  be  perfectly  join- 
ed together  in  the  same  judgment  respecting 
the  essential  doctrines  and  duties  of  religion. 

Rov.iii.  1.    Joab.i.8.    Ps.  i.  2.   2  Pet  i.  19 -21. 

iii.  18.  1  Cor.  ii.  13,  15.  Col.  i.  9.  Rom.  xii.  2.  Acts  xxii. 
14.  Heb.  xiii.  21.  1  John  v.  14.  Eph.  iv.  14,  15,  I  Cor. 
i.  10. 


62 

9.  Guard  against  a  selfish  and  exclusive  de- 
votion to  your  own  interests,  and  endeavor  in 
all  suitable  ways  to  promote  the  well  being  of 
your  fellow  men. 

1  Cor.  xiii.  5.    Phil.  ii.  4.     1  Cor.  x.  24.    Luke  vi.  31. 

10.  Cultivate  a  kind  and  benignant  temper 
towards  all,  and  strive  to  avoid  everything  that 
will  tend  unnecessarily  to  wound  the  character 
or  feelings  of  others. 

Rom.  xii.  10,  18.      2  Pet.  i.  7.      Col.  iii.  12  -  14. 

11.  Make  it  your  great  object  to  understand 
clearly,  and  to  perform  faithfully,  all  the  duties 
resulting  from  your  several  relations  as  men  and 
as  Christians.  The  following  passages  exhibit 
the  duties  : 

(1.)  Of  Pastors  towards  the  Church.  Acts  xx.  28. 
Eph.  iv.  11,  12.  Rom.  xii.  6-8.  2  Cor.  i.  4.  Mai.  ii.  7. 
1  Tim.  iv.  12,  13.    2  Tim.  ii.  15.     Tit.  i.  9.     1  Pet.  v.  2. 

(2.)  Of  the  Church  towards  their  Pastor.  Gal.  vi.  6-8. 
1  Cor.  ix.  7-14.  1  Thes.  v.  12,  13.  1  Tim.  v.  17.  Heb. 
xiii.  17.  Acts  ii.  42.  1  Thes.  v.  25.  Heb.  xiii.  18.  Acts 
xii.  5.     2  Cor.  i.  11.     Rom.  xv.  30.      Eph.  vi.  18,  19. 

(3.)  Of  Church  members  towards  each  other.  To  cul- 
tivate mutual  love.  Eph.  v.  2.  1  Thes.  iii.  12.  John 
xiii.  34.    To  refrain  from  speaking  evil  of  each  other.     Tit. 


63 

James  iv.  11.     To  admonish  one  another. 

w.  II.     CoL  in.  1<:.     Heb.  in.   13.    To  minister  to  each 
other's  wants.      I;  .  I  :.     I  Tim.  vi.  1-.     I  Pet 

To  pray  for  each  other.     James  v.  n;.      T 
one  another  in  times  of  affliction.    I  ~.    i  j 

v.  I  I.      To  promote  each  other'*  edification  in  knowledge 
ami   b  I  1  II.      Tit.   u.  :',.       I  i 

Heb.  x.  24.    Col.  iii.  16, 


(4.)  Of  every  member  towards  the  Church.     Gal.  vi.  ]0. 
1  Cor.  xiv.  12.     1  Cor.  x.  32. 


(5.)  Of  householders  towards  their  families.  Gen.  xviii. 
10.  Dent.  vi.  7.  Eph.  vi.  4,  9.  Col.  iv.  1.  Prov.  xxii.  (i. 
1  Tim.  iii.  4,  12.  Ps.  ci.  2,  7.  2  Sam.  vi.  20.  Prov.  xxxi. 
27.     Acts  xvi.  15,  33,  34.     Matt.  xix.  13,  14. 

(G.)  Of  children  and  domestics  towards  heads  of  families. 
Exod.  xx.  12.  Eph.  vi.  1  -3.  Eph.  vi.  5-8.  1  Tim.  vi. 
1.  2.     Tit.  ii.  9,  10. 


12.  Frequently  review  the  solemn  Covenant 
which  you  have  entered  into  with  God  and  his 
people,  and  study  to  reform  whatever  has  been 
wrong  in  your  temper  or  conduct,  and  to  bring 
your  whole  inward  and  outward  life  into  har- 
mony with  what  you  have  publicly  engaged  to 
do,  relying  upon  the  atoning  merits  of  your  cru- 
cified Redeemer  for  pardon  and  acceptance,  and 


64 

upon  the  sanctifying  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  growth  in  grace,  and  complete  victory  over 
sin. 

Deut.  iv.  23.     1  Chron.  xvi.  15.     Jer.  xi.  2,  3.     Rom.  xi. 
27.     Deut.  xxix.  9.    Heb.  xii.  24.     Eph.  i.  12  -  14. 

13.  Finally,  whatsoever  things  are  true, 
whatsoever  things  are  honest,  whatsoever  things 
are  just,  whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoev- 
er things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of 
good  report  ;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there 
be  any  praise,  think  on  these  things. 


And  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  knowl- 
edge, shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  through 
Christ  Jesus. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  PRINCIPLES. 


AND 


STANDI  N  U   R  ULES. 


•'  For  though  I  tie  ahsent  in  the  flesh,  yet  am  I  with  you  in  the  spirit, 
i  your  Order,  ami   the  steadfastness  of  your  faith  in 
,—CoL  ii.  5. 


The  form  of  Government  adopted  by  this  Church 
is  that  set  forth  in  the  Cambridge  Platform,  agreed 
upon  by  the  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  Churches, 
assembled  in  the  Synod  at  Cambridge,  1648,  from 
which  the  following  principles  are  in  substance  se- 
lected, for  the  benefit  of  those  members  who  have  not 
access  to  the  original  work. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  PRINCIPLES. 


CHURCH    GOVERNMENT. 

1.  Church  government  and  discipline  is  that 
form  and  order  which  Christ  has  required  to  be 
observed  in  his  church  upon  earth,  both  as  to  its 
constitution,  and  all  the  ordinances  which  are 
administered  in  it. 

NATURE    OF    THE    CHRISTIAN    CHURCH. 

2.  The  Christian  church  is  a  spiritual  king- 
dom, of  which  Jesus  Christ  is  the  supreme  head 
and  lawgiver,  embracing  all  who  are  described 
in  the  Scriptures  as  the  covenant  people  of  God, 
throughout  the  world. 

A    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

3.  A  Congregational  Church  is  a  portion  of 
the  visible  church,  consisting  of  a  convenient 
number  of  visible  believers,  united  in  one  body 


by  a  holy  covenant,  submitting  to  a  scriptu- 
ral form  of  government,  and  meeting  together 
in  one  place  for  the  worship  of  God  j  for  the 
regular  administration  of  the  sacraments  of  the 
gospel ;  for  the  exercise  of  discipline  ;  and  for 
their  mutual  edification  in  the  knowledge  and 
fellowship  of  the  gospel. 

RIGHTS    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

4.  Every  particular  church  is  a  complete 
body  in  itself,  and  has  authority  to  adopt  that 
form  of  government  which  appears  most  agreea- 
ble to  the  word  of  God  ;  to  manage  its  internal 
affairs ;  to  choose  those  officers  whom  Christ 
has  designated  and  ordained  to  teach  and  rule 
in  the  Church  ;  to  regulate  the  admission,  dis- 
cipline, and  removal  of  its  own  members,  ac- 
cording to  the  rule  laid  down  in  the  Scriptures  ; 
and  is  amenable  to  no  ecclesiastical  power 
upon  earth,  except  by  its  own  consent,  or  agree- 
ably to  the  established  usage  of  Congregational 
churches. 

PERMANENT    OFFICERS. 

5.  The  ordinary  and  permanent  officers  of 
the  church  are  Pastors  and  Deacons  ;  who  are 
to  be  regularly  chosen  and  called  by  the  particular 
church  in  which  they  are  to  minister,  and  after 


60 

thorough  Examination  in  respect  to  their  fitness 
for  the  work   to  which   they  are   called,  to   be 
ordained  according  to  the  mode  approved  and  in 
in  Congregational  churches. 

hi  TIES    OF    PASTOBS. 

6.  It  belongs  to  the  office  of  Pastor,  to  take 
the  oversight  of  the  church  in  respect  to  spiritu- 
al  things  ;  to  preach  the  word  :  to  administer 

the  seals  of  the  Covenant;  to  pronounce  the 
sentence  of  the  church  upon  offenders;  to  call 
the  chinch  together  upon  necessary  occasions  ; 
to  i  reside  in  all  church  meetings  ;  and  finally 
to  tabor  in  all  divinely  appointed  ways  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  saints,  and  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ,  until  they  come  to  the  unity  of 
1 1 1 1 1 .  and  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God  ; 
unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  ful- 
ness of  the  stature  of  Christ. 

DUTIES    OF    D  1ACONS. 

7.  The  duty  of  the  Deacons  is  to  receive 
and  keep  the  funds  of  the  church  :  to  provide 
the  necessary  elements  for  the  proper  adminis- 
tration of  the  sacraments  ;  to  apply  such  portion 
of  the  funds  in  their  hands,  as  the  church  may 
direct,  to  the  relief  of  the  poor  ;  and  in  the  ab- 


70 


sence  of  the  Pastor,  to  preside   in   the  meetings 
of  the  church  in  rotation. 


DUTY    OF    THE     CHURCH     TOWARDS    ITS     OFFICERS. 

8.  Although  churches  cannot  be  compelled 
to  receive  any  officer  not  freely  chosen  by  them- 
selves, yet  when  a  fit  person  is  regularly  or- 
dained over  them  by  their  own  choice  and  con- 
sent, they  are  bound  to  submit  to  the  authority 
with  which  he  is  invested  by  the  Head  of  the 
church,  and  to  esteem  him  very  highly  in  love 
for  his  work's  sake. 


MAINTENANCE    OF    PASTORS. 

9.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  church  to  furnish  a 
suitable  and  sufficient  maintenance  to  those  who 
are  called  to  labor  in  word  and  doctrine,  not  as 
matter  of  alms,  but  of  debt,  that  they  may  give 
themselves  wholly  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
without  embarrassment  in  respect  to  their  tem- 
poral support. 

IMPORTANCE    OF    A    PUBLIC    PROFESSION. 

10.  All  believers  ought  to  join  themselves, 
if  possible,  to  some  particular  church,  that  they 
may  honor  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  by  a  public 


profession  of  their  faith,  and  subjection  to  the 
order  and  ordinances  of  the  gospel  ;  that  they 
may  liavc  fellowship  with  the  visible  people  of 
God  in  their  work  and  privileges;  that  they  and 

then-  children  may  receive  the  promises  made  to 
•  'hurch  :  and  that  they  may  be  instrumental 
in  promoting  and  perpetuating  the  visible  king- 
dom of  God  upon  earth. 

ADMISSION    OF     MEMBERS. 

11.  When  a  person  wishes  to  join  himself  to 
the  Church,  he  should  make  known  his  desire 
to  the  Pastor,  or  to  one  of  the  Deacons  if  the 
Church  is  destitute  of  a  Pastor,  and  if  there  he 
no  objection,  he  is  at  some  convenient  time  to 
be  examined  by  the  Pastor  and  a  commit; 
the  Church  as  to  his  repentance  towards  God; 
his  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  his  acquaint- 
ance with  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the 
Church;  and  his  preparation  to  perform  the  du- 
ties, and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  a  Church  mem- 
ber ;  and  then,  if  the  examination  is  sat 
he  is  to  be  propounded  to  the  Church  a  reasona- 
ble time  before  his  admission,  that  the  brethren 
may  be  prepared  to  receive  him  as  becometh 
saints. 

If  any  member  of  the  Church   fe<  ously 

dissatisfied  with  the  character   or   conduct   of  a 


72 

person  propounded  for  admission,  he  should  first 
endeavor  to  obtain  satisfaction  by  a  private  in- 
terview with  the  candidate  ;  or,  failing  in  this, 
he  should  state  the  ground  of  his  dissatisfaction 
to  the  Pastor,  or  to  one  of  the  examining  com- 
mittee, and  to  no  other  person,  that  suitable 
measures  may  be  taken  to  remove  the  difficulty, 
and  preserve  the  peace  and  purity  of  the  Church. 

REMOVAL    OF    MEMBERS. 

12.  No  member  may  withdraw  from  the  com- 
munion and  fellowship  of  the  Church  in  the 
worship  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  without 
just  and  weighty  cause  ;  nor  can  any  one  cease 
to  be  under  the  watch,  care,  and  discipline  of 
the  Church,  except  by  excommunication  for  a 
violation  of  covenant,  or  by  dismission  and  re- 
commendation to  some  other  Church. 

If  a  member  has  occasion  to  remove  for  a  sea- 
son to  another  place  where  there  is  a  sister 
Church,  letters  of  recommendation  are  requisite, 
and  sufficient  for  communion  with  that  Church 
in  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

When  a  member  wishes  to  remove  perma- 
nently from  one  Church  to  another,  it  is  his  du- 
ty to  ask  for  letters  of  dismission  and  recom- 
mendation, staling  the  grounds  of  his  request, 
which  the  Church  is  bound  to  grant,  unless  the 


removal  be  manifestly  unsafe  or  sinful ;  and  any 
Othei  mode  of  withdrawing  from  the  Church  is 
disorderly  and  just  gr  mnd  of  censure. 

RIGHTS    OF    MEMBERS. 

13.  Every  member  of  the  Church  is  entitled 
to  all  its  privileges,  until  they  are  forfeited  by 
unchristian  conduct  j  and  when  thus  forfeited, 
he  can  be  deprived  of  them  only  by  regular 
process  of  discipline. 

CHURCH    DISCIPLINE, 

14  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  maintain 
that  discipline  which  Christ  has  appointed;  for 
the  removal  of  offences,  for  the  vindication  of 
the  honor  of  religion,  for  the  purification  and 
edification  of  the  Church,  for  the  restoration  of 
offending  brethren,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
averting  the  displeasure  of  God,  which  may 
justly  be  manifested  towards  a  church  that  suf- 
fers the  ordinances  of  religion  to  be  profai 
by  obstinate  offenders. 

PRIVATE    OFFENCES. 

15.    In  all  cases  of  private  and  personal  of- 
fences, the  offender  is  to  be  dealt  with   in   the 
mode  pointed  out  by  Christ,  Matt,  xviii.  15,  16; 
and  no  complaint,  or   information,  in   respect  to 
7 


74 

such  offences,  can  be  admitted  by  the  Church, 
until  the  means  of  reconciliation  and  reclaiming 
the  offender,  there  required,  have  been  faithfully 
employed.  If  a  person  gives  publicity  to  a  pri- 
vate offence,  except  in  pursuing  the  regular 
course  of  discipline,  or  in  the  discharge  of  some 
other  indispensable  duty,  he  sins  against  his 
brother,  and  is  liable  to  the  censure  of  the 
Church. 

PUBLIC    OFFENCES. 

16.  When  an  offence  is  at  first  public,  and  of 
a  heinous  and  scandalous  nature,  the  previous 
steps  pointed  out  in  case  of  private  offences 
need  not  be  taken  ;  but  the  Church,  upon  a 
proper  complaint,  may  take  immediate  cogni- 
zance of  it.  It  is,  however,  in  most  cases  ad- 
visable for  some  brother,  or  a  committee  of  the 
Church,  first  to  converse  privately  with  the 
accused, 

PROCESS    OF    DISCIPLINE. 

17.  When  a  member  is  complained  of  before 
the  Church,  he  is  entitled  to  due  notice  of  the 
precise  sin  or  sins  with  which  he  is  charged  ;  to 
a  reasonable  time  for  preparing  his  defence  ;  and 
to  an  open  and  impartial  hearing  ;  and  no  vote 
of  censure  can  be  lawfully  passed  by  the  Church, 


I  by  the  concurrence  of  a  majority,  at  a 
regular  meeting,  expressly  notified  for  that  pu> 

CHURCB    <  ENSURES. 

18.  If  a  person,  when   proved  guilty  of  an 

ce  by  com; -tent  testimony,  does  oot  give 
satisfaction  to  the  Church  by  a  penitent  confes- 
sion, ho  is  to  be  admonished,  publicly  or  pri- 
vately ;  excluded  from  the  enjoyment  of  church 
privileges  :  or  cast  out  of  the  Church  by  excom- 
munication, according  to  the  nature  and  a 
vation  of  his  sin.  If  the  sentence  of  the  Church 
is  followed  by  the  humble  confession,  re] 
ance,  and  obvious  amendment  of  the  offender, 
he  is  to  be  forgiven,  comforted,  and  restored  to 
his  former  standing  in  the  Church. 

FELLOWSHIP    OF    CHURCHES. 

19.  All  those  Churches  which  have  obtained 
"  like  precious  faith  through  the  righteousness 
of  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,"  and  hold 
the  same  Divine  Head,  though  distinct,  ought  to 
maintain  church  communion  and  fellowship,  by 
extending  to  each  other  the  privilege  of  com- 
munion at  the  Lord's  Table  ;  by  the  mutual 
transfer  of  members  when  circumstances  render 
removal  expedient  :  by  the  occasional  exchange 


76 

of  pastoral  services  ;  by  giving  and  receiving 
advice  and  assistance  through  mutual  councils, 
agreeably  to  the  established  usage  of  Congrega- 
tional churches  ;  and  by  earnest  efforts  to  pro- 
mote each  other's  welfare. 


STANDING  RULES. 


1.  All  meetings  of  the  Church  shall  be  open- 
ed with  prayer* 

2.  The  annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of  Clerk, 
Examining  Committee,  and  the  transaction  of 
other  business,  shall  be  in  January  ;  the  time 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Pastor  and  Deacons,  and 
notice  to  be  given  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sab- 
bath preceding. 

3.  The  Examining  Committee,  of  which  the 
Pastor  and  Deacons  shall  constitute  a  part,  shall 
examine  all  candidates  for  admission,  and  present 
in  a  written  report  the  names  of  such  as  they 
approve. 

4.  Candidates  for  admission,  whether  by 
letter  or  profession,  shall  be  propounded  first  to 
the  Church,  and  notice  thereof  be  given  to  the 
congregation,  at  least  two  weeks  previous  to 
their  admission. 

7* 


78 

5.  At  the  close  of  every  Preparatory  Lecture, 
there  shall  be  a  stated  church  meeting,  at  which 
the  vote  in  relation  to  the  admission  of  candi- 
dates shall  be  taken. 

6.  All  persons  admitted  to  the  Church  shall 
be  required  to  sign  our  Confession  of  Faith,  Cov- 
enant, and  Rules. 

7.  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  ad- 
ministered once  in  two  months,  on  the  after- 
noons of  the  first  Sabbaths  in  January,  March, 
May,  July,  September,  and  November. 

8.  Those  who  join  the  Church  by  profession, 
shall  be  admitted  in  the  presence  of  the  congre- 
gation, after  the  Sermon,  in  the  morning  previ- 
ous to  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

9.  Members  of  the  Church,  who  are  about  to 
remove  from  town,  are  expected  to  make  known 
their  intention  to  the  Pastor,  and  receive  letters 
of  recommendation  to  the  church,  if  there  be 
one  in  fellowship  with  us,  in  the  place  to  which 
they  are  going  ;  and  members  of  sister  churches 
coming  to  reside  for  a  season  with  us,  and  wish- 
ing to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  communion  with 
us,  are  expected  to  present  similar  letters  from 
the  churches  to  which  they  belong. 


10.  Members  of  other  churches,  who  are  per- 
manently settled  in  this  place,  and  desire  to 
walk  m  fellowship  with  the  Church,  are  expect- 
ed to  obtain  a  removal  of  their  church  relation 
to  us,  as  soon  as  they  conveniently  can,  unless 

assign  satisfactory  reasons  for  delay  to  the 
Paster. 

11.  All  applications  for  letters  of  dismission 
and  recommendation  shall  be  made  in  writing, 
stating  the  ground  upon  which  they  are  de- 
shed. 

12.  The  Church  shall  meet  on  Friday  even- 
ings for  devotional  exercises  and  religious  con- 
ference. 

13.  Any  alteration  may  be  made  in  these 
Rules,  at  a  regular  church  meeting,  called  for 
the  purpose. 


NAMES  OF  MEMBERS, 


OFFICERS   OF  THE   CHURCH. 


Rev.  JOHN  A.  ALBRO,  Pastor. 

James  Munroe,  >  n 

Stephen  T.  Farwell,  $  IJeacons' 

Zelotes  Hosmer,  Clerk. 

The  examining  Committee  consists  of  the 
Pastor,  Deacons,  and  the  following  Brethren : 


William  Saunders, 
William  Greenough, 
Miles  Gardiner, 


Zelotes  Hosmer, 
Francis  Nourse, 
Nathaniel  Mullikin. 


M.UES  OF  MEMBERS, 


Note.  —  The  following  lis!  commences  with  the 
Installation  of  Dr.  Holmes.  It  contains  the  Dames 
of  those  who  adhered  to  the  Church  at  the  time  of  its 
separation  from  the  First  Parish,  and  of  all  who  have 

been  admitted  since  that  period. 

*  Marks  those  who  are  deceased. 

f       "        those  who  have   been   dismissed  to  other 

churches, 
r.       "       those  who  were  received  by  letter. 

1792.  Jan.     25.     *Rev.  Abiel  Holmes,  D.  D., 

Pastor. 
*Susan  Thorn,! 
•Jemima  Flacker,! 
^Catharine  Morse,! 

1793.  Nov.        3.     *Walter  Dickson, 

fAnna  Dickson, 
Lucy  Dickson,   (Mrs.  Saw- 
in,) 
Dec.       8.     *Mary  Bates, 
1798.     Sept.       2.     Mehetable  Hastings, 

t  Dates  of  admission  uncertain. 


84 


1800. 

Sept. 

25. 

Joanna  Dana, 

Feb. 

9. 

*Lydia  Kneeland, 

1801. 

Jan. 

5. 

Eliza  F.  Prentiss, 

Dec. 

27. 

*William  Frost, 

1803. 

Jan. 

16. 

Rebecca  Jarvis, 

Dec. 

30. 

*William  Hilliard,  Deacon. 
Sarah  S.  Hilliard,  r. 

1806. 

Sept. 

31. 

James  Munroe,  Deacon. 

a 

Margaret  Munroe, 

1808. 

Dec. 

4. 

Martha    R.     Dana,     (Mrs. 
Allston,) 

t( 

Elizabeth  E.  Dana, 

1812. 

Nov. 

4. 

Ruth  Conant, 

1815. 

Aug. 

13. 

Mary  Munroe, 

1816. 

Sept. 

1. 

*Sarah  Flagg, 

n 

*Esther  Goodwin, 

1818. 

Sept. 

6. 

Samuel  F.  Sawyer, 
Patience  Sawyer, 
William  Saunders, 
Sarah  Saunders, 

1819. 

Jan. 

3. 

Nathaniel  Munroe, 

May 

2. 

fTorrey  Hancock, 
^Isabella  Hancock, 

1822. 

Dec. 

29. 

Richard  H.  Dana, 

1823. 

May 

4. 

Betsey  Bates, 

July 

3. 

Rebecca  Munroe, 

1824. 

Oct. 

24. 

*Susannah  Gilson, 

1826. 

Feb. 

19. 

fAmy  Elizabeth   McKeen, 
(Mrs.  Worcester,) 

85 


32; 


L828. 


329. 


1830. 


March  5. 

Hannah  Prentii 

Elizabeth  Watson, 

Nov. 

5. 

Susan  Holt, 

July 

1. 

Jonathan  C.  Prentiss, 

M  ury  Prentiss, 
Persis  Ba 
Lydia  Parki 
Lydia  Parker  2d, 
M  uy  Tliayer, 
fJosiah  W.  Cook, 
♦Catharine  Smith, 

Jan. 

6. 

Sarah  Ann  Dana, 

Abigail  Dana. 

Sarah  Brown,  |  .Mrs.    Shed, 

May 

4. 

Elizabeth  Dana. 
fSarah  II.  Cook, 
fJohn  Cragin, 
*Jacob  Potter, 
•Abigail  Frost, 

Oct. 

15. 

f Isabella  J.  Weeks, 

Sept. 

6. 

Sarah  Anderson, 

Dec. 

13. 

fRev.  Nehemiah  Adams,  r. 
Pastor. 

Elizabeth  Milliard, 
fEliza  S.  Newman, 
f  Thomas  Dakin. 

Jan. 

3. 

William  Raymond, 
fAaron  Pratt, 

May 

2. 

Elizabeth  Dates,  r. 

- 

86 

Cynthia  Russell,  r. 

Nancy  Pickett, 

Sophronia  W.  Houghton, 

Mary  Robbins,  (Mrs.  Hall,) 

fMary  Chadbourne, 
July      4.     Susan  Bates, 

Abigail  Gordon, 

Louisa     Sawyer,     (Mrs. 
Thurston,) 

Zoa    Duntin,     (Mrs.    F. 
Wythe,) 

fHenry  Nowell, 

f  Abigail  Nowell, 

fDavid  McClure, 

fRoxanna  L.  Cook. 

f  Susan  F.  Smith, 

^Catharine  Locke, 

*Elizabeth  Palmer, 

*Mary  Currier, 
Sept.      5.     Anna  Bradshaw,  r. 

Martha  Sawyer,  (Mrs.  Law- 
rence,) 

Judith  Lamson, 

fHarriet  Low, 
Nov.      7.     Samuel  Pickett, 

Caroline  Hawkins,  (Mrs.  E. 
Griffin,) 

fCalvin  E.  Stowe,  r. 

fSarah  Ann  Wigglesworth, 
(Mrs.  Hobart,) 


fMary  Ann  Sawy.        1 

B 
j-Lucy  Rice,  r. 
1831.     ./'/"•      2.     Harri(  I  C    Bowman, 

Eunice  Gilson,  (Mrs.   Ban- 
croft,) 
Abigail  J.  Houghton, 
Huldah  Knowlton, 
Hannah     Hawkins,     I  ! 

Grinln,) 
-(-Esther  Symmcs, 
fLydia  Norton, 
-(-Hannah  Read, 
July      3.     Joel  Giles, 

Miles  Gardiner,  r. 
Lydia  Gardiner,  r. 
Rowena  Pratt, 
Mary  Lenard, 
Eliza  Derby, 
fSnsan  Chadbourne, 
fAlvah  Cragin, 
I  trtha  Boardman, 
Sept.      4.     Hannah  Barrett, 
Susan  Cummings, 
Philena  Janes, 
fSnsan  Clears, 
fMargaret  P.  Washington, 
1-32.      Jan.        1.      Martha  W.  Russell,  r. 
fEnoch  Noyes. 


March    4. 
May      6. 


July      1 . 
Sept.      2. 


Nov.      3. 


1833.     Jan.       6. 


July      7. 
1834,    ilfarc/i    2. 


Nov.     2. 
1835.     itfarc/i    1. 


Thomas  P.  Lerned, 
fCharles  Hayes, 
fMartha  H.  Adams,  r. 
Mary  Allen,  r. 
Sarah  Gates,  r. 
Stephen    T.     Farwell,     r. 
Deacon, 
Mary  Stedman, 
Anne      Tolman,       (Mrs. 

Wright,) 
Charles  Nowell, 
Emeline  Jones, 
Sarah  A.  Little, 
Miriam    Gordon,    (Mrs.    G, 
Hayes,) 
Sarah  Holt,  (Mrs.  Mullikin,) 
Rebecca  Goodwin, 
Emily  Goodspeed, 
Louisa  Tolman,  (Mrs.  Cate,) 
fRebecca    Goodwin,    (Mrs. 

C.  Hayes,) 
Lucy  Brown, 
Sarah  Goodwin, 
Margaret  Allen,  r. 
Sarah  Allen,  r. 
Susan  Allen,  r.  (Mrs.  Mun- 
roe,) 
Lucy  Willard, 
Mary  S.  Gould, 


89 


1838. 


Sept. 

G. 

Nathaniel  Mullikin, 
Elizabeth  T.  Parwell,  r. 

Mary  Frost,  r. 

Theresa  Gould,   (Mrs.  Ste- 

Jan. 

4. 

Caroline  Wright, 

Dorothea  I  )<  rby. 

Jan. 

1. 

Sarah  Joyce, 

Hannah  Little, 

Eliza  Gould, 

Sarah    E.  Conant,   (Mrs. 

Nourse,) 
Hannah  L.  Conant, 

Basse  tt,) 
Sarah  H.  Mullikin,  r. 
fCaroline   Read,  (Mrs.  Cra- 

March 

5. 

Joseph  Parker, 
Mary  Parker, 

May 

7. 

Augustus  D.  Carpenter,  r. 
Elsey  Kendall,  r.  (Mrs.  Ler- 
ned,) 
Elizabeth  Williams, 

Jan. 

7. 

John  Allen,  r. 

March 

4. 

William  Greenough,  r. 

Sarah  Greenough,  r. 

May 

G. 

Lyman  Thurston,  r. 
Delia  Thurston,  r. 
Zelotes  Hosmer,  r. 

90 

Louisa  Hosmer,  r. 

Robert  S.  Rogers,  r. 

Mary  Ann  Rogers, 

Benjamin  A.  Spaulding,  r. 

David  Wright,  r. 
July      8.     Lucy  Sawyer, 

Olive  Abbott, 
Nov.      4.     Mary  Frost, 

Susan  Parker, 

1839.  Jan.       6.     Frances  Nourse, 

Mary  Oliver,  r. 

fAlfred  C.  Carpenter,  r. 
May      5.     Lyman  Whiting,  r. 

Sarah  S.  Hall,  r. 

Harriet  Priest,  r. 
July      7.     Hannah  Smith,  r. 
Sept.     1,     Elizabeth  H.  Rogers,  r. 
Nov.      3.     Elizabeth  Campbell, 

Anne  Gould, 

Eliza  J.  Pike,  (Mrs.  Fuller,) 

1840.  July      5.     Experience  D.  Hyde, 

Elizabeth  Willard, 
Harriet  Lenard, 
Eunice  Danforth, 
Clarissa  Sonle, 
Henry  Frost, 
Charles  Lenox, 
Sept.      6.     Lovey  Dunham, 
Louisa  Gurney, 


91 

L841.      v  5      Benjamin  A  Clark, 

A I  mini  Clark 
Han  el  w  alton,  r. 
I )<lia  A.  Thurston, 
\    v.      7.     Sarah  L.  Clement,  r. 
1-1-2.     Jan.      2.     Ephraim  S.  Mullikin, 

on  ah  Tufts, 
May      1.     Jacob  II.  Bal 
Charles  Gould, 
William  Bates, 
David  Buck, 
William  G.  Dix, 
George  Faulkner. 
David  Campbell, 
Frederic  A.  Hunt, 
George  S.  Saunders. 
Francis  13.  Washburn, 
Frederic  A.  Mumler, 
Susan  M.  Green, 

rah  Munroe, 
Deborah  P.  Hodgden, 
Mary  E.  Pickett, 
Sarah  Brown, 
Lucy  A.  Divoll, 
Nancy  A.  Divoll, 
Rowena  Divoll, 
S   rail  Lenard, 


PR ES  BNT    M  BM B BRS 


MALES. 

Allen.  John 
Bate>,  Jacob  II. 
i  William 

Buck,  David 
(        ipbell,  David 
Carpenter,  Augustus  D. 
Clark,  Benjamin  A. 
Dana,  Richard   II. 
Dix,  William  G. 
Farwell,  Stephen  T.  Dea. 
Faulkner',  George 
Frost,  Henry 

liner,  Miles 
Giles,  Joel 
Gould,  Charles 
Greenough,  William 
Hosmer,  Zelotes 
Hunt,  Frederic  A. 

..  Charles 
Lerned,  Thomas  P. 
Mullikin,  Nathaniel 
Mullikin,  Ephraim  S. 
Mumler,  Frederic  A. 
Munroe,  James,  Deacon. 
Munroe,  Nathaniel 
Nourse,  Francis 


Now<  II.  Charles 
Parker,  Joseph 

1  * i <- k «  tt,   Samuel 

Prentiss,  Jonatl 
Raymond,  William 

3,  Rob<  ■  •  9 
Saunders,  William 
Saund< 

Sawyei ,  Samuel  F. 
Spaulding,  Benjamin  A 
Thurston,  Lymau 
Washburn,  Francis  B 
Whiting,  Lyman 
Wright,  David 

FEMALES. 

Abbott,  Olive 

Allen,  .Mary 
Allen.  Sarah 
Allen,  Margaret 
Allston,  Marth 
Anderson,  Sarah 
Bancroft,  Eunice 

Barrett,   Hannah 
n.  Hannah 

3,  Elizabeth 

B 


94 


Bates,  Persis 
Bates,  Susan 
Bowman,  Harriet  C. 
Bradshaw,  Anne 
Brown,  Sarah 
Campbell,  Elizabeth 
Cate,  Louisa 
Clark,  Almira 
Clement,  Sarah  S. 
Conant,  Ruth 
Cummings,  Susan 
Dana,  Joanna 
Dana,  Elizabeth 
Dana,  Abigail 
Dana,  Elizabeth  E. 
Dana,  Sarah  A. 
Danforth,  Eunice 
Derby,  Eliza 
Derby,  Dorothea 
Divoll,  Rowena 
Divoll,  Lucy  A. 
Divoll,  Nancy  A. 
Dunham,  Lovey 
Farwell,  Elizabeth  T. 
Frost,  Mary 
Frost,  Mary 
Fuller,  Eliza  J. 
Gardiner,  Lydia 
Gates,  Sarah 
Goodspeed,  Emily 
Goodwin,  Sarah 
Gordon,  Abigail 
Gordon,  Abigail  A. 
Gould,  Mary 
Gould,  Eliza 
Gould,  Anne 
Green,  Susan  M. 
Greenough,  Sarah 
Griffin,  Caroline  H. 


Griffin,  Hannah  H. 
Gurney,  Louisa 
Hall,  Sarah  S. 
Hall,  Mary 
Hastings,  Mehetabel 
Hayes,  Miriam 
Hilliard,  Sarah  L. 
Hilliard,  Elizabeth 
Hodgden,  Deborah  P. 
Holt,  Susan 
Hosmer,  Louisa 
Houghton,  Sophronia 
Houghton,  Abigail  J, 
Hyde,  Experience  D. 
Janes,  Philena 
Jarvis,  Rebecca 
Jones,  Emeline 
Joyce,  Sarah 
Knowlton,  Huldah 
Lamson,  Judith 
Lawrence,  Martha 
Lenard,  Mary 
Lenard,  Harriet 
Lerned,  Elsey 
Little,  Sarah  A. 
Little,  Hannah 
Mullikin,  Sarah  H. 
Munroe,  Margaret 
Munroe,  Mary 
Munroe,  Rebecca 
Munroe,  Susan 
Munroe,  Sarah 
Nourse,  Sarah  E. 
Oliver,  Mary 
Parker,  Lydia 
Parker,  Lydia  2d. 
Parker,  Eliza 
Parker,  Susan 
Parker,  Mary 


Pratt,  Etowena 
Pickett,  Nancy 
Pickett,  Mary  E. 
Pickett,  Anne  M 
Prentiss,  Mary 
Prentiss,  Eliza  l\ 
Prentiss,  Hannah 

Priest,  Hannah 

Rogers,  Mary  Ann 
Rogers,  Elizabeth  H. 
Russell,  Cynthia 
Saunders,  Sarah 
Sawin,  Lucy 
Sawyer,  Patience 
Sawyer,  Lucy 
Shed,  Sarah 
Smith,  Hannah 


95 


Soule,  Clan  — a 

Iman,  Mary 
Stevens,  Then 
Thayer,  Mary 
Thurston,  Delia 
Thurston,  Delia  A 
Thurston,  Louisa 
Tufts,  Susannah 
Walton,  Harriet 
Watson,  Elizabeth 
Willard,  Lucy 
Willard,  Elizabeth 
Williams,  Elizabeth 
Wright,  ( laroline 
Wright,  Anne 
Wythe,  Zoa 


DATE  DUE 

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